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DEL.ICIO.USCagle and Handel make what could be opening moves in the 2010 race for governor
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You know that when the unofficial campaign spots begin to appear, the real TV ads can’t be far behind.
Not by coincidence, two Republicans kicking the tires on a race for governor in 2010 — Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and Secretary of State Karen Handel — launched good-government programs this week.
Let’s first take Cagle, who is expected to file the paperwork for his campaign next week. His new pet program is intended to sniff out waste in state government.
The lieutenant governor has created a web site, www.cutwaste.org, that promises confidentiality to those who report bosses who don’t show up until 11 a.m., or workers who use state cars to conduct personal business.
The campaign comes with its own public service ad, which features Cagle. Excellent for name recognition purposes. See it below.
Now, you’ll remember that back in 2004, Secretary of State Cathy Cox was prepping for a Democratic run for governor. And she just happened to make herself the star of a $3 million prime-time TV advertising campaign that warned Georgia’s elderly about scamsters after their retirement money.
The money came from a court settlement of a lawsuit against investment firms, but Cox was roundly criticized for using public money to increase her presence in the minds of voters.
Interestingly, the announcement of Cagle’s effort contained this:
“These advertisements are funded exclusively by voluntary donations from private citizens and businesses. They will continue running for the remainder of this year, in an effort to identify new ways for state and local governments to save funds in the face of severe budget shortfalls. “
Handel’s efforts are more modest. She, too, has a web site. But no television presence.
She has launched a “transparency in government” program on the Internet, which she says will permit citizens to track every dollar spent by her department, and every dollar in campaign contributions she accepts.
“Responsible fiscal management begins with a commitment to transparency and accountability,” Handel said. “Georgia taxpayers deserve to know how their tax dollars are being spent, and I am pleased to provide them with that information.”
But one can also look at this web site and see a future candidate for governor. Again, Cathy Cox, Handel’s Democratic predecessor, is the reason.
Cox entered the 2006 Democratic primary at a financial disadvantage, in part because she took her duties as supervisor of state elections seriously, and curtailed her fund-raising until she fell seriously behind Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor.
Handel’s web site may be serving notice that she doesn’t intend to follow Cox’s example, but also knows that, as guardian of the state’s voting process, she’ll need to keep everything above board.
Photo credit: Kimberly Smith/AJC
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Comments
By 1mustlaugh
August 29, 2008 6:02 PM | Link to this
So Cagle puts up a website that doesn’t say anything, it’s only goal is to ask people to rat folks out. That’s leadership.
Not sure how you can compare 2 websites that are put up overs 2 years before the election to a multi million dollar TV campaign less than 12 months before
By Ga Values
August 29, 2008 6:05 PM | Link to this
When is a CONSERVATIVE Republican going to announce for U S Senate,, Johnny Bail Out The Banks needs to GO.
By 1mustlaugh
August 29, 2008 6:17 PM | Link to this
So Cagle puts up a website that doesn’t say anything, it’s only goal is to ask people to rat folks out. That’s leadership.
Not sure how you can compare 2 websites that are put up overs 2 years before the election to a multi million dollar TV campaign less than 12 months before
By Yee Haw!
August 29, 2008 9:58 PM | Link to this
The fact the two Republican front runners for Governor don’t have college educations says it all about the Georgia Republican Party.
By the real deal
August 29, 2008 11:00 PM | Link to this
Cagle is a fraud. The people will see that soon enough.
By circling the drain
August 30, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this
This is a joke right? Casey Cagle wants to hear about waste in government? What about using state employees to guard a stairwell while chatting up Gena Abraham? Karen Handel wants to demonstrate transparency? Well where is the spreadsheet column about using state aircraft to travel for self-serving speeches all over the state or the column about the taxpayer-funded stipend for her $50,000 Lexis? And who paid for that trip to China? Cagle and Handel must have a pretty low opinion of the electorate to try to pull off this garbage.
By loverepublicans
August 31, 2008 8:17 PM | Link to this
There must be a republican Zell Miller that can rescue the GA party. Step forward CONCERTATIVES NOW!!!!
By RJ
September 1, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this
Come 2010 after eight years of Republican dominance in Georgia, the people will say enough is enough. They will no longer be suckers to soundbites like conservative v.liberal. They will have a greater appreciation and desire for performance.
Under Republican dominance Georgia’s economy has not grown… it has and continues to endure stagnation.