[farmfriend]

Mr. Cain did not touch base with state party leaders, the National Republican Senatorial Committee or the party's real godfather, White House strategist Karl Rove, before jumping into the race.

I hate it when they play these games.

Mr. Cain enters a primary field that includes another black Republican, Atlanta businessman Al Bartell, who ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor last year

Why didn't he just back the guy already running and running with some name recognition? Is this going to split the black vote now, allowing the white guy to take it? Doesn't seem like a very smart political move but I know nothing about the politics in Georgia.

[mhking]

Why didn't he just back the guy already running and running with some name recognition?

Actually, Cain's got more name recognition than Bartell locally (at least in the black community); there hasn't been much splash on either name at least in Atlanta. I'm not sure about the remainder of the state.