Over at Georgia Health News, Andy Miller reports that a federal agency that specializes in hazardous material has accepted pleas from Waycross residents to investigate a local cancer outbreak:
AJC subscribers can get more of the background by clicking here.
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For Donald Trump, those early vote states can't come soon enough. And Ben Carson may be headed toward Jeb Bush territory, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released this morning:
Trump has 28 percent of the GOP pack, with Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas at 24 percent. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida has 12 percent and Dr. Ben Carson has 10 percent, the independent Quinnipiac University Poll finds. No other candidate tops 6 percent with 8 percent undecided. But 58 percent of those who name a candidate might change their mind.
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Donald Trump is putting down roots in Georgia.
The Republican frontrunner is the first presidential
candidate to open a permanent office in metro Atlanta, near the budding Atlanta Braves stadium in Cobb County.
but at left is the modest image that will greet you at the front door.
Trump isn't the first candidate to plant a flag in Georgia. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who is building his candidacy around the South and its March 1 SEC primary, opened an office last week in Valdosta.
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The Wall Street Journal has a good look at the Trump phenomenon in the South, digging into its own polling:
The idea of Mr. Trump doing well in counties with large minority populations may seem counter-intuitive, but, remember, we're focusing on a specific set of voters that live in those places: Republican primary voters. With that group, we are focusing almost solely on white voters who live in those counties. Even in states with large minority populations, the Republican primary electorate is more than 90% white.
The broader demographic profile of those counties – places marked by lower incomes and education levels – fits well with the profile of Trump voters that has emerged over the last few weeks. Recent polls have shown the GOP front-runner does better with Republican primary voters who fall into those groups.
In other words, Trump's strength in the South is the modern-day Gene Talmadge voter.
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In polls, Lindsey Graham barely registered a heartbeat. But as we pointed out Monday, his exit from the presidential race frees up a lot of establishment heavyweights in South Carolina. The early beneficiary is Jeb Bush. From Reuters:
Nine other members of Graham's operation have also chosen to help Bush, including three co-chairs of Graham's state finance operation. These include Eddie Floyd, Anita Zucker and Bob Royall, the official said.
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USA Today has something from the "Really?" file:
This time, to run as an independent.
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Whoops. The Augusta Chronicle reports that an aircraft maintenance firm is demanding a $7 million refund from the city and another $1.86 million from the Richmond County school system, citing overpayment on local sales taxes.
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It appears that Georgia's coastal islands will be spared the blessing/scourge of games of chance. Beyond those offered by local convenience stores, anyway. From the Brunswick News:
"I was thinking more like Savannah or Kingsland," said Rep. Ron Stephens, R-Savannah, chief sponsor of the casino bill. "There's been some interest in Savannah close to the South Carolina line, and there's some interest in being close to Jacksonville.
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A new, expanded set of clergy leaders has vowed to oppose "religious liberty" legislation next year. More than 200 pastors, rabbis and other religious leaders have signed a petition that warns the proposal could "result in discrimination and have many unintended consequences." Here's a snippet:
We oppose this proposed legislation. First, it would put an individual's religious beliefs ahead of the common good. Second, it could unleash a wave of costly lawsuits that will add burdens to both the courts and taxpayers alike. Third, our freedom of religion is already guaranteed and protected by the U.S. Constitution and Georgia's State Constitution.
The measure's sponsors contend the legislation offers an an extra layer of protection against government intrusion into religious rights.
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