Take a closer look at the names of the 31 statewide delegates and alternates headed to the summer convention in Cleveland. Combined with the 41 delegates selected at an earlier round of GOP meetings, you'll notice something interesting.
Gov. Nathan Deal’s name is missing. So is House Speaker David Ralston, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and much of the rest of the upper reaches of the Georgia GOP glitterati.
The only statewide elected officials Georgia is sending to Cleveland as part of its contingent of 76 delegates are Public Service Commissioner Bubba McDonald, an early Donald Trump supporter, and Attorney General Sam Olens, who endorsed Jeb Bush at the outset of the race. Only a few politicians - including Sens. Josh McKoon, Michael Williams and David Shafer, and state Rep. Ed Rynders of Albany - are on the list.
Most of the others were either bypassed or took a pass at a delegate slot. That doesn't necessarily mean they are skipping Cleveland, though.
A Ralston spokesman informs us he’s headed to the convention as a guest, as did aides to Secretary of State Brian Kemp, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and U.S. Sens. David Perdue and Johnny Isakson. A spokesman for Deal, meanwhile, says he remains “undecided” about making the trip.
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