The question came minutes after Gov. Nathan Deal declared victory in his trouncing of his primary opponents on Tuesday: What do you think Democrat Jason Carter's greatest strength is?
"I suppose if I listen to his campaign ads, it would be the fact that he has a very famous grandfather," said the governor.
Carter hasn't rolled out any campaign ads yet, but we get the hint. With
, the rivalry and rhetoric between Deal and Carter will only sharpen. And with Carter's famous heritage - his grandfather is former President Jimmy Carter - it will also get increasingly personal. Deal offered a taste on Tuesday night:
Carter points out that about one in four Georgia GOP voters cast ballots against the sitting governor, which he sees as a sign of weakness. (Deal's camp is ecstatic that his support topped 70 percent in the low turnout affair.) He also argues that the race is about the future and not his family. Said Carter:
"This governor is walking around saying we're at the pinnacle. That's what his commercials are saying. That this is the pinnacle, the best that we can do. But I'll tell you, if this is the best he can do, it's time for a new governor."
, but the governor has yet to unleash the brunt of his considerable resources against Carter. Deal offered a hint last night at where those attacks might lead. Said Deal:
"I think there will be questions raised about whether he supports certain principles and policies that the Obama administration is advocating. And that will be up to him to say. I know one thing: As the governor of the state, you are somewhat obligated to support your party when that party is in control of the White House. I don't think you can avoid that. Those are consequences in the minds of many Georgians will not necessarily sit well."
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Statewide GOP turnout in last night's primary was 12 percent of 5 million registered voters, down from 14 percent in 2010.
But the real story of the evening, in terms of last night’s formation of a Republican runoff in the U.S. Senate race, was U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston’s ability to run up the score in south Georgia, and businessman David Perdue putting the squeeze on former secretary of state Karen Handel in the suburbs of metro Atlanta.
Thus we have the map above. You can play with the county-by-county, interactive version here.
Kingston won 78 percent of his home county of Chatham, and 64 percent in Glynn County – the two biggest population centers of his congressional district. Overall, Kingston won 75 percent of his First District, which made up more than a quarter of his roughly 154,000 statewide votes.
Handel won 40 percent in her home county of Fulton. She won 29 percent in Cobb County, where she was edged out by David Perdue. U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Marietta, came in a distant third. Handel claimed Gwinnett 36 percent in Gwinnett, but had David Perdue close at her heels at 31 percent.
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That Augusta businessman Rick Allen won the GOP race for the 12th congressional district without a runoff certainly isn't good news for U.S. Rep. John Barrow, D-Augusta.
We know this because the National Republican Congressional Campaign told us so, early this morning:
Rick Allen has a long history of working for his community and will be a great contrast to John Barrow's trial lawyer, politician biography. Barrow's political pandering and long history of putting his political career ahead of Georgia families is what's causing the gridlock and dysfunction in Congress. Allen is a businessman who has put his community first and will continue to do so in Washington.
It’s almost enough to make you wonder why the NRCC crowd tried to inject a late candidate into the race. State Rep. Delvis Dutton, R-Glennville, finished third.
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The state's other big congressional surprise was in coastal Georgia, where Bob Johnson edged out John McCallum for a First District GOP runoff spot with former state senator Buddy Carter of Pooler. Which might be a lesson for some of you wannabes.
Only a few days ago, Johnson was caught in a bind over a recording of some unfortunate remarks in a debate. Johnson would prefer another terrorist attack on this country, he could be heard saying, than deal with airport TSA agents.
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A pro-business group that targeted three state House Republican incumbents batted .666 last night. The independent Georgia Coalition for Job Growth, a joint effort of the Metro Atlanta Chamber and Georgia Chamber of Commerce, jumped up in the last month with a boatload of cash and a dozen or so targeted races.
Its decision to go after three "liberty" members of the General Assembly raised not a few eyebrows.
State Rep. Charles Gregory, R-Kennesaw, a one-termer who backed stringent pro-gun measures, lost to rookie Bert Reeves, a Marietta attorney.
The race was marked by an anonymous Monday robocall in the district that inferred Reeves was gay with a partner named Matt. Gregory believes that the call was a double-reverse effort by Reeves forces to generate sympathy. We may soon know the truth of it.
The Reeves campaign tells us that they intend to trace the outfit that generated the call, and the group or individual that paid for it.
State Rep. Sam Moore, R-Ball Ground, who joined the General Assembly mid-session in a special election, was also ousted. Meagan Biello and Wes Cantrell move on to the July 22 GOP runoff.
However, state Rep. Jason Spencer, R-Woodbine, author of a stringent anti-Obamacare bill this session, survived a challenge by Nancy Stasins with 59 percent of the vote.
The Georgia Coalition for Job Growth also sought to protect state Rep. Brooks Coleman, R-Duluth, chairman of the House Education Committee that deep-sixed an anti-Common Core bill this spring. Coleman beat off two primary challengers last night and escaped a runoff.
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The above item includes an example of how gayness can be used to disparage a heterosexual. The world is quite familiar with the tactic.
But in a climate of changing attitudes, the sword now has edges on both sides. On Monday, Georgia Voice – a newspaper and website with a substantial gay and lesbian audience – jumped into the District 42 race for state Senate, now held by Democrat Jason Carter of Atlanta.
What do you mean you are a "straight shooter," Elena Parent? Because you aren't gay like your opponent, Kyle Williams?
….Also today, an email from state Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver has gone out to voters praising Parent because "We attend the same church, she has two beautiful children and she and her husband and boys live in Druid Hills." Please, this is gay baiting at its worst.
Parent crushed Williams with 65 percent of the vote.
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Not a few of Tuesday's contests had some racial undercurrents:
-- Two well-funded African-Americans, Ashley Bell of Gainesville and Fitz Johnson of Cobb County, were shut out of the GOP race for school superintendent on Tuesday. The runoff will be a fought on Common Core ground. Mike Buck, chief of staff to incumbent John Barge and proponent of the new academic standards, will face Richard Woods. As expected, the Democratic runoff will be twixt state Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan and Valarie Wilson.
-- Also last night, state Rep. Willie Talton of Warner Robins, the only black Republican member of the Legislature, was defeated by primary challenger and newcomer Heath Clark.
-- Longtime state Sen. Steve Thompson of Marietta, one of those rare white Democrats in the General Assembly, knew the racial demographics of his district were changing, but thought he’d give it one more try. Thompson lost to Michael Rhett, an educator and Air Force veteran.
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