Posted on 07/20/2010 7:39:24 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued
Ex-Georgia secretary of state Karen Handel has nabbed a spot in the Republican runoff for governor.
With 64 percent of precincts reporting, unofficial returns show Handel had 32 percent of the vote. Her candidacy has been buoyed by the backing of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
There was a furious three-way battle behind her for the second runoff spot.
Former U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal had 25 percent of the vote. Former state Sen. Eric Johnson had 19 percent of the vote, while state Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine had 18 percent.
They were among seven Republicans vying for their party's nomination. A runoff is needed if no candidate wins 50 percent plus one vote.
The runoff winner will face Democratic winner Roy Barnes in the fall.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Yeah? Why? This is not California. Any one of the front runners could beat Barnes.
Alas, Black GOP State Rep. Melvin Everson lost the nomination for Labor Commissioner.
Actual there is a reason it called presidential politics.
Handel and Deal in the runoff. Ox took a dive and Johnson did well. The debates probably helped him. I’m not sure its a slam dunk for Handel in the runoff but we’ll see.
I really thought JD had a chance in Arizona. I don’t know what happened, to make the bottom fall out. I’m sure it’s not all Palin’s fault. But it’s frustrating to think the voters out there, facing a devastating onslaught on two fronts, are willing to trust old two-face to keep to his new and improved flip flops.
I tried to follow the seven GA candidates as well as I could. I read some things about Handel that made me think she would be a mistake. Now all of a sudden she’s the front runner. It’s not my idea of an ideal outcome.
Oh well.
Good old politics as usual. And here I was hoping we were taking a turn towards PRINCIPLES. Oh well.
This isn't Massachussets, it's Georgia. Barnes has already been fired by the voters of this state. Seems to me that with Obama in office if we have to settle for the most liberal candidate in one of the most conservative states then we are f*#&ed. Might as well join the democrats now so you can get to shop at the good stores when they stop this charade of democracy.
Handel will indeed have her hands full facing Deal - a 20+ yr DC rep from here.
He has a problem with money he steered to son in law. He’s a career pol.
Anybody but Barnes! ...fwiw Barnes was gov previously but didn’t win a 2nd term - first time since dinosaurs that a gov didn’t.
The most electable conservative (or the most conservative electable) is the always the best choice.
I really shouldn’t be afraid to try that spell check thingie sometime.
The Republican meme.
Just insert the name of the RINO.
Real "principled."
/s
Perhaps you thought I support Handel? I don’t.
My comment was that I think she did well tonight b/c many think she has the best shot at winning it.
I see their point. Last election for gov it was no runaway. Remember Atlanta, Savannah, Columbus, Macon, Athens will go heavy Dem. North of Atl will go heavy R. It ends up close.
Are you staying home if she’s the nominee?
What does that sentence actually mean? Vote for the front runner? The only thing that made Handel and Deal more electable than Johnson or Chapman is the support of the same buffoon party insiders that have made the GOP the Stupid Party since 1988.
Agreed - In fact, Johnson and Chapman ran circles around Deal and and Oxendine during the debates. The had the best plans to handle illegal immigration, education/school choice, jobs/tax cuts, you name it. Handle DID NOT EVEN SHOW UP to the debates.
I agree, Handel is not the one Georgians need. She is a Rino that supports gay rights. How could Palin throw her support behind her is puzzling!
First, I apologive for using the word ‘you’. It was lazy writing and and I should not have used the personal reference. I voted for McCain in 2008. I had puke in my mouth while I did it, but I voted for the stupid, vapid SOB. I can’t imagine Handel being nearly as bad as McCain, but we’ll see in a few years when she tries to make the jump to the Senate.
It’s the age old debate EV - get a very conservative nominee in the primary and lose the general or hope the conservative wins.
Case by case. IMO voters went for the R[ino] win.
Sometimes voters go conservative. Deal’s replacements for 9th Congressional District were all very conservative and will be unopposed - so voters went conservative.
But in Ga statewide, the demographics are not conducive to a conservative win. So statewide, many conservatives vote for someone they think can win.
In our state this makes sense - in some places I’m sure it doesn’t.
Oklahomans will get a chance to vote in the primary next Tuesday for another momma grizzly, Mary Fallin, for Governor of Oklahoma.
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