Sorting through the pieces of a broken batch of statistics (AJC Poll on Georgia Candidates)

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 5/16/03 | Tom Baxter and Jim Galloway

[LdSentinal]

Every now and then, the political world changes so fast the journalistic one can't keep up properly.

For instance, last week we had the pleasant prospect of a simple U.S. Senate primary race between two Republicans prepared to rip each other's face off.

Then U.S. Rep. Mac Collins jumped into the race, and ruined a perfectly good portion of a Journal-Constitution poll of 501 statewide voters.

We're a little ticked off. Collins committed his news with no apology or acknowledgement that he'd just sent the work product of dozens of diligent telemarketers -- the polite kind who only call only during commercials or between innings -- spiraling down the drain.

We've been sorting through the wreckage, trying to ferret out some information that still might be relevant. Here are a few favorable-unfavorables on politicians that might be of interest (keeping in mind a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points):

-- U.S. Rep. Johnny Isakson: The announced, well-financed candidate for U.S. Senate has a 48 percent favorable rating. His unfavorables come in at 11 percent, with 40 percent yet to make up their minds. The better news for Isakson is that among Republicans, he has a favorable ranking of 60 percent, and only 5 percent unfavorable.

And overall, he scored better with men than with women -- which isn't what you'd expect from a congressman who's been concentrating on education.

-- House Minority Leader Lynn Westmoreland: Once mentioned as a U.S. Senate candidate, but now certain to enter the 8th Congressional District race. The most important thing -- and perhaps the only thing -- the AJC poll revealed about Westmoreland was that 78 percent of Georgia voters don't know who he is, despite his recent anti-tax headlines.

-- Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor: The Big Guy, who is much more likely to run for governor in 2006, gets a 51 percent favorable ranking. His unfavorables come in at 18 percent. Among Democrats, he scores high, at 67 percent favorable.

-- Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin: The following numbers will likely cause a certain political aide, who often accompanies the mayor, to be uncomfortable. Franklin receives a favorable ranking from 60 percent of statewide voters -- higher than any of the above. Her unfavorables are at 10 percent.

Among rural voters, 44 percent like her. Among metro Atlanta voters, 80 percent give her high marks. Among Republicans, 54 percent rank her favorably. Franklin is still mulling the race.