Deal comes out in support of Collins in 9th

Gov. Nathan Deal has come out in support of state Rep. Doug Collins, with just a few days to go before voters decide between Collins and Martha Zoller in the Republican runoff for Georgia's new Ninth Congressional District.

Deal recorded a 42-second recording for Collins, his floor leader in Georgia's House, that was to debut in automated telephone calls throughout the North Georgia district Saturday.

In the call, Deal calls Collins a good friend who has helped him enact laws that "protect life, crack down on illegal immigration and cut taxes to promote jobs."

"A Christian conservative, Doug Collins will stand up to Barack Obama, eliminate wasteful spending and cut the debt as well as our taxes," Deal says in the recording.

Collins, an Air Force Reserve chaplain from Gainesville, has also received endorsements from former U.S. Sen. Zell Miller, a former Georgia governor, and Georgia House Speaker David Ralston.

Zoller, a former radio talk show host from Gainesville, has collected endorsements from former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and former presidential candidates Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum. Zoller announced on Thursday that she had received the endorsement of Sadie Fields, former head of the Christian Coalition of Georgia and Georgia Christian Alliance.

Whoever wins Tuesday's runoff will face Jody Cooley, a Democrat, in the Nov. 6 general election. Cooley is an attorney from Gainesville. The Ninth District includes 17 counties and parts of three others, including Clarke, Forsyth and Pickens.

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