Top GOP Sources Mention Ralph Reed for White House Backing in Georgia US Senate Race

ABC News Column-'The Invisible Primary- 2004' and Roll Call ^ | January | Morton Kondrake and Marc Armbinder

[ewing]

Outgoing Georgia Governor Roy Barnes says he is not interested in the United States Senate Seat from Georgia in 2004.

With Barnes out of the race, it would appear that former Senator Max Cleland (Democrat -Georgia) would be the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination.

But a current Democratic Senator speaking on the condition of anonymity said that even if Cleland expressed interest it would not auotmatically result in the backing of Democratic Leadership.

Top ranking Republican sources said Georgia Republican Party Chair (and former Christian Coalition head) Ralph Reed might recieve the backing of the Bush Administration White House should he decide to enter the race.

Such a move would help to 'clear the field' of candidates and prevent GOP party infighting.

[ewing]

Message recieved, Andy and Karl-Ralph Reed would make a fine U.S. Senator!

Mortone's original piece in Roll Call that sparked the ABC News mention

http://www.rollcall.com/issues/48_46/news/130-1.html

[veronica]

Ralph Reed would be a wonderful Senator.

[ewing]

Im waiting for the Rats to pull Jimmy Carter out of the hat to run on the other side..

[babble-on]

Newt! Newt! He's our man! If he can't do it Ralphie can.

[Redbob]

If the Dims run Carter, all we have to run is a rabbit!

(Picture this: at every Carter campaign stop, there's a man dressed in a giant rabbit suit - or is it Harvey himself? Does anyone but Jimmuh see it?)

[xzins]

Besides being a great choice and a great Christian,...

Ralph Reed is extremely capable in front of a camera and a microphone.

George Bush is recruiting some absolutely talented people. This is going to be the best Republican Party leadership in decades.

[GraniteStateConservative]

This is very surprising. I wouldn't put Ralph Reed at the top of the list of most electable. If Rove has done polling and that's what it shows, then fine. It would be a shocker to me. He wasn't on my radar screen at all.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Newt's already said he won't run.

[justshutupandtakeit]

This is a non-starter. A rumour created to try and cause problems for Bush.

[ewing]

More from Roll Call.. 'Reed is close to Bush uber-advisor Karl Rove who is credited with helping define the field of candidates and winning strategies for many open Senate races that led the GOP to victory in the 2002 Election cycle.'

[AppyPappy]

Has Reed ever been elected to anything?

[TheBigB]

I was about to ping you for your opinion. Will Max really run again? If not, who in the world will the Dems run? Would one of the just-defeated guys like Tom Murphy, Charles Walker, or Billy McKinney try, you think? Would they garner statewide support?

I'm still betting that Jack Kingston will end up being the nominee.

[ewing]

That was my thought as well, Rove must have some internal polling that says Ralph would beat the potential challengers.

This is quite a bold move, to put the chips on the table like this..

[Guillermo]

"Might" receice...and I "might" be on the next space shuttle mission.

My early pick is Kingston.

[Guillermo]

I'm surprised it took someone this long to come up with that idea.

Judging by the past election, he is the only logical choice.

You should call Rush this afternoon and mention that.

[ewing]

This was leaked to Morton Kondrake and is Washington rumour speak asking Ralph Reed to run.

I think they would have to start fundraising right away and he has got the connections big time back from the Christian Coalition days..

[hchutch]

ONLY 55-45?

NC, SC, and GA will definitely go for us. If Giuliani runs against Schumer that gives us NY. If Huckabee runs in AR, that's a pickup over Lincoln. Plus NV, SD, and WI could also be VERY vulnerable Dem seats.

Our only weak spot is IL. So, we're looking ta what could be a 58-42 GOP Senate if we play our cards right.

[ewing]

I'll bet Rush and Hannity already have this on their radar screens for today's programs.

We have to get cracking right away if this Senate Seat is to go to GOP hands..

[Guillermo]

The problem I see is that he has never won elected office.

Georgia rejected Guy Millner in 3 seperate statewide races, even though he had the backing of GOP officialdom and had gobs of money.