Libertarian picks up support of GOP rival to Georgia governor

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Libertarian Andrew Hunt’s campaign for governor is set to receive the endorsement of former Dalton Mayor David Pennington, who tried to rally tea party supporters to his side in a failed GOP primary challenge against Gov. Nathan Deal.

Pennington plans to announce his support for Hunt at a press conference scheduled for Friday in a move that could bolster the third-party candidate’s plan to play spoiler in this year’s race for governor.

“When he was mayor, he was able to cut taxes in the budget every year and still provide as good or better service. We need cost-effective government,” Hunt said. “It’s an honor to have someone like that want to endorse me.”

Polls routinely gauge Hunt’s support between 3 percent and 7 percent, which could be enough to deprive Deal or Democrat Jason Carter of a majority and force the race into a December runoff.

Both major party campaigns hope Hunt’s support wanes as ads and rhetoric intensify in the campaign’s last stretch.

Pennington earned about 17 percent of the vote in the May primary with a message that Deal has betrayed conservatives by failing to cut taxes and spending quickly enough. He championed himself as the true conservative in the race, and after his loss, he started a newsletter that bashed Deal’s policies.

Pennington said he is backing Hunt because he is the “only limited-government conservative in the race.”

“That’s our message out there: We need to have limited government with more freedom,” Hunt said. “I think there are a lot of disillusioned Republicans and Democrats.”

Converting the disillusioned may still be difficult for Hunt, though, said University of Georgia political scientist Charles Bullock, who notes that enthusiasm around Libertarian candidates historically wanes by Election Day.

“No, I don’t think so,” Bullock said about the possibility of Republicans jumping ship to vote for Hunt. “If there is any consequence, it will be that the Libertarian would get enough votes for a runoff.”

The campaigns of Deal and Carter have largely ignored Hunt, though he will get statewide attention during debates scheduled later this month. The Libertarian Party of Georgia will also run an ad touting its candidate in the two weeks before Election Day, only the third time the state party has purchased television time.

Hunt and Pennington plan to appeal to other Republicans who are yet undecided on the governor’s race.