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Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Within a whisker of declaring an upset for Paul Broun and Athens
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just got off the phone with Paul Broun, who credits an alliance of Christian conservatives, “disenfranchised Republicans” and Democrats for what looks like an upset victory in the 10th District congressional race. “I got a lot of help out of the African-American community,” he said.
With more than 85 percent of the run-off vote counted, Broun held a shifting but significant lead over Jim Whitehead, a former state senator from the Augusta area.
Here’s your best link to the up-to-date vote spread, shamelessly filched from Secretary of State Karen Handel’s web site.
A victory by Broun, who finished a distant second to Whitehead in a June 19 election, would represent a surprising upset — and a blow to Augusta, home to the seven-term Norwood, who died in February of a lengthy lung ailment and cancer.
Whitehead, owner of a small chain of tire stores, has led in fund-raising throughout the contest and was the choice of many in the state Republican establishment.
In the race for the White House, Georgia could be turning purple
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Matt Towery’s InsiderAdvantagehas a poll out today that may turn a few heads.
In a July 12-14 poll of more than 1,000 registered voters, respondents were asked whether they were more likely to vote in a Republican or Democratic presidential primary next year.
Thirty-nine percent said they’d be voting in the Democratic primary. Thirty-seven percent said they’d choose a Republican ballot. Count the remainder, 24 percent, as undecided.
“This means that independent voters, who have for the past few election cycles trended towards the GOP, are less decided as to which party they prefer,” Towery said.
His firm put out polling data on Monday showing that Fred Thompson was the leading choice among Georgia Republicans, while Hillary Clinton maintained a slight edge over Barack Obama among Georgia Democrats.
The best-laid plans of mice and Republicans
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Things have been going so swimmingly for Republicans in Georgia, it’s sometime difficult to spot the fly in any soup.
Mac Collins may be that particular winged creature. After years of prodding, GOP leaders were finally able to lure Rick Goddard, a former Air Force major general, into a federal race.
Goddard is out to present yet another challenge to U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall (D-Macon), and has raised not quite $152,000 for the effort — compared to Marshall’s $631,000. in cash on hand.
But as of now, it doesn’t look like Republicans have been able to clear the field for the 8th District race, which could become important down the road.
Collins, who came so tantalizingly close to defeating Marshall in ’06, has loaned his own campaign organization $130,000, according to his financial disclosure. One has to presume he’s still interested in re-taking the seat he once held.
The Macon Telegraph has made note of the fact, as well as Congressional Quarterly.
Report: Swindall funneled money to Atlanta city councilwoman
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dale Russell with WAGA (Fox) had an intriguing piece last night, dwelling on two men who say they helped former congressman Pat Swindall make an illegal $8,000 contribution to Atlanta City Councilwoman Joyce Sheperd.
Sheperd says she doesn’t know Swindall, and has asked Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard to investigate. Russell reports that the GBI has joined in as well.
The men quoted by Russell claim Swindall wrote an $8,000 check to be divided up into eight individual checks of $1,000 — to be sent to Sheperd.
Swindall, a real estate investor in downtown Atlanta, denies any wrongdoing, and says he’s the victim of an extortion attempt.
Swindall was a two-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives whose political career ended with a perjury conviction arising out of a federal money-laundering investigation.
