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DEL.ICIO.USPerdue caravan hits the mountains
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In Hollywood, actors often being upstaged by animals and children.
In politics, that same rule doesn’t apply to food. As long as folks attend, politicians are happy to share the spotlight with a good meal.
So, Gov. Sonny Perdue began Friday with a 8 a.m. event at the Dillard House, in Dillard, Ga. - an inn and restaurant famed for both the quanity and quality of its southern cooking.
The breakfast spread - or Perdue - drew a capacity crowd of more than 300 folks who filled up every seat and spilled into the hallways.
The breakfast spread dwarfed the stops Perdue made the entire week before. The group stuffed themselves on pastries - croissants, biscuits, cinnamon buns - scrambled eggs, sausage, toast, berries and fruit, pancakes as well as a southern staple that’s not always easy to find, grits with red eye gravy.
Perdue touched on familiar themes - family, the state’s booming economy and the need to elect a slate of Republicans to run the state.
His wife, Mary Perdue, spoke in Dillard - an unusual turn - and was well received.
She said her husband’s honesty and integrity attracted her 34 years ago and those qualities remain true today.
“He is still the same man,” the first lady said.
Charles Gergeni, an insurance agent from Clayton, said he was pleased with the job Perdue has done so far. Gergeni, who considers himself a conservative, but not necessarily a Republican, said he was especially pleased with the economy under Perdue.
His one request of the governor? “I’d be interested in seeing taxes come down a little bit,” Gergeni said.
HARTWELL
In Hartwell, Perdue made what may be his only stop at a private home - the Teasley home just off the downtown square.
Faire and Dean Teasley hosted more than 150 Republican faithful in a huge family room that Faire Teasley said could hold twice as many.
Dean Teasley was Hart County’s first elected Republican county surveyor.
The faithful Republicans’ home, a brick Victorian with elaborate woodwork and wide heart of pine plant floors, had previous lives as a funeral home and a church. Now only the Teasley’s use the 7-bedroom home.
Faire Teasley said she’s a big fan of the governor. “I love him. I support him 100 percent.”
The event gave the Teasley’s a chance to mix politics and business. The home is for sale - she said it’s worth $2 million, but would take $1.6 million.
The Hartwell event also stood out because a handful of supporters of Democratic Rep. Allan Powell, who represents the area, stood across the street. They also plastered a building across from the Teasley home with signs.
The opposition party has made no effort to disrupt or even appear at any other stops.
DANIELSVILLE
Where do Republicans go to eat in Danielsville?
Zebs, a small barbeque spot, about 5 miles from the downtown square.
With the governor gone to other events and the next gathering not until 5:30 in Gainesville, the down-ballot entourage took a detour for a long lunch and some relaxation.
SUVs filled the small parking lot.
Digging in were Karen Handel, secretary of state candidate; Brent Brown, labor commisisoner candidate; Michael Wiggins, who’s running for state supreme court; Chuck Eaton, who’s running for the public service commission, and Gary Black, candidate for agriculture commissioner.
The shocking revelation from lunch? Handel is a closet Trekkie.
She took serious ribbing for a Visa card with a Star Trek Voyager theme, arguably the worst series in the proud, long history of the sci-fi franchise.
Handel explained she only got the card because it came with a photo she wanted to give to her husband.
“It’s my emergency card. I never use it,â€? Handel explained.
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