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Monday, June 25, 2007
For a governor who has everything, another checking account
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A sharp-eyed reader caught this legal ad in today’s edition of the Fulton County Daily Report, advertising the incorporation of the Perdue PAC, with a street address identical to the state Republican party.
The registered agent is one James N. Ayers, who served as campaign manager for Gov. Sonny Perdue’s ’06 re-election campaign. Former state GOP chairman Alec Poitevint and ex-chief of staff John Watson are the other two officers in the non-profit corporation.
There are three basic reasons that a sitting governor would want to establish such a political action committee, which has the expressed purpose of doling out campaign money to other political figures:
— No. 1, Perdue has ambitions for public office beyond his second term, and Perdue PAC would be a way to keep his fund-raising machine together — independent of state party machinery.
— No. 2, Perdue’s relationship with members of the Legislature is such that he’ll need to give some lawmakers some contributions to assuage their anger. And will need to fund opponents to punish the recalcitrant.
— No. 3, as current chairman of the Republican Governors Association, Perdue needs to be able to send money to movers and shakers outside Georgia’s borders, expanding his influence nationwide. Just in case something in the category of No. 1 crops up.
Said Ayers on Monday:
“I wouldn’t read much into Perdue PAC. Most incumbent statewide officials have a PAC to support political candidates, push their agenda and stay in touch with their supporters.
“For now, that’s what Perdue PAC will do.”
Marlow concedes, says there will be no recount
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just got a press release from James Marlow, the failed Democratic candidate for the 10th District congressional race.
He’s sent out a letter to supporters that declares he doesn’t intend to ask for any recount, and congratulates the two Republicans who finished ahead of him: Jim Whitehead of Columbia County, and Paul Broun of Athens.
Not that there was much chance of him doing otherwise.
With 100 percent of the vote now in, Whitehead finished with 23,555 votes, or 43.5 percent; Broun had 11,208 votes, or 20.7 percent; and Marlow finished with 11,010 votes, or 20.3 percent.
Marlow missed the run-off by 198 votes.
Here’s the letter:
Dear Friends,
I would again like to thank everyone across the Tenth District, Georgia and the nation who supported our campaign. I would especially like to thank the folks in my hometown of Lincolnton and my campaign headquarters in Athens.
From the beginning, the most enjoyable part of this campaign was reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones.
I owe a great debt of gratitude to everyone who contributed to the campaign, hosted me in their home, knocked on a door, made a phone call, waved a sign on a street corner or just spoke with a neighbor about our campaign.
I can’t thank you enough for believing in me and the message of our campaign.
I do not plan on contesting or challenging the results of the election, and I congratulate Jim Whitehead and Paul Broun for winning the two slots in the runoff.
Again, I thank everyone who participated in the campaign, and I congratulate all of the candidates on a well-run race.
Sincerely,
James Marlow
The vice president’s next secret visit to Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We’re still trying to get our arms around that fact that a secret visit by Vice President Dick Cheney on Friday resulted in the closing of one of America’s most popular national parks — in high summer — for an entire day.
But just so you can mark your daybooks: Cheney’s next secret visit to Atlanta will be Monday, July 16. He’ll be the star attraction at a fund-raiser for U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss hosted by Charlie Loudermilk.
That’s a red alert for traffic in the I-75, Northside Drive area. Fortunately, the event is at mid-day.
First Whitehead-Broun debate Wednesday, on Athens radio
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The run-off in the 10th District congressional race continues to perk along.
The first debate between the two candidates will happen Wednesday morning on WGAU (1340AM) in Athens, we’re told. It’ll be a 9 to 10:30 a.m. studio affair between the two candidates: front-runner Jim Whitehead, a former state senator from the Augusta area, and Paul Broun, an Athens physician.
Late last week, the Oconee County GOP narrowly became the 10th Republican county organization in the 21-county district to endorse Whitehead.
Said the Athens Banner-Herald:
The Oconee GOP’s executive committee split over the endorsement. Chairman James Griffith originally cast the tie-breaking vote against endorsing Whitehead, but later ruled that past chairman Larry Davidson could cast a proxy vote in favor of endorsing Whitehead, causing the motion to pass, according to minutes of the meeting.
Broun won 50 percent of the county, which borders Athens/Clarke County in last Tuesday’s 10-candidate shake-down.
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ICYMI: Chambliss ‘consulted’ with Boortz on immigration
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Over the weekend, an Associated Press article on the influence of talk radio and TV in the debate over immigration reform had this telling paragraph:
“Neal Boortz, he popped us pretty good,” said Lindsay Mabry, a spokeswoman for Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., who shifted from qualified support to opposition to the bill in recent days. She said Chambliss consulted with Boortz on immigration even though the senator was not an on-air guest during the debate.
To paraphrase Mr. Twain: Put all your eggs in a single basket, and then watch the basket
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Remember the $142 million property tax cut that Gov. Sonny Perdue drew a line through last month? If you’re a member of the Republican base, it’s not the kind of thing you forget.
Once vetoed, the money went into the Revenue Shortfall Reserve Fund. Think of it as 142 million eggs placed in a single basket.
Jared Thomas and his anti-tax group, Americans for Prosperity, have assigned themselves the task of watching the basket.
On Tuesday, they intend to start a “Save the Surplus” petition, passed around the state, to encourage all in the state Capitol — be they governors, lieutenant governors or speakers — to preserve that $142 million like it was a errant snail darter, perhaps even sending it back to its original habitat next year.
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