Is an endorsement really an endorsement if you give the nod to two candidates from the same party who are running for the same seat?
From GOP gubernatorial candidates Eric Johnson and John Oxendine’s Twitter doohickeys:
Whatever, Johnson posted it first! Eat that, Ox©!
First we had John Oxendine’s “innovative” commercial in which a giant bull destroyed homes and slaughtered a mutant rodent at Turner Field and Buford Dam.
Now there’s an ad pillorying the leading GOP gubernatorial candidate. Tagline: “The Ox. At least he went to college.” That’s an obvious (and not entirely accurate) jab at Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel, who’s also running for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. She recently said she attended night college classes, but didn’t earn a diploma.
Regardless, flash animation lives on in Georgia political campaigns. Huzzah!
(H/T to Andre Walker at Blog for Georgia)
Rasmussen reports that John Oxendine still leads candidates battling to become the GOP’s gubernatorial nominee. According a telephone survey conducted by the pollster, 27 percent of likely Republican primary voters favor the state insurance commissioner.
The Ox’s© lead, however, has shrunk by four points — and the number of undecided voters has grown. Rasmussen says many likely voters still haven’t formed an opinion about the candidates — which isn’t surprising for a contest that’s still 10 months away.
Here’s how the other pachyderms stack up:
Twelve percent (12%) prefer Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel, while nine percent (9%) like Congressman Nathan Deal. Handel and Deal were tied at 13% each in the previous survey.
Rounding out the list is State Senator Eric Johnson, State Representative Austin Scott and conservative businessman Ray McBerry, each with three percent (3%) support among primary voters.
Seven percent (7%) favor some other candidate, and 35% are not sure. The number of undecided voters climbed four points from two months ago, suggesting that the race is far from decided.
That “other candidate” favored by seven percent of poll respondents could easily be a Libertarian. Pray to God it’s not this guy. Rasmussen will release details on the Democratic gubernatorial candidates tomorrow.
Yay! The new issue of The Beacon, the North Fulton weekly newspaper that made headlines for its Obama-in-the-crosshairs cover, has been delivered to my computer screen!
What’s this? A profile of Georgia Secretary of State and 2010 GOP gubernatorial candidate Karen “Bring It On” Handel? I wonder how it’ll start.
“I’ve had to fight for everything my whole life,” says Georgia Secretary of State and GOP gubernatorial candidate Karen Handel. “So this is no different.”
And so begins perhaps the most glowing profile you will ever read about Karen Handel, from now until the day you die.
Yesterday afternoon, the five or six Georgia journalists who still have jobs received an email from the John Oxendine campaign.
On Thursday night, the email said, the 2010 GOP gubernatorial candidate would release a “‘new media’ advertisement” hitting Roy Barnes. A campaign spokesman said the ad “demonstrates John Oxendine’s commitment to using innovative, cutting-edge genre to communicate serious messages in creative mediums.”
The release included this hilarious paragraph:
The [event where the ad will be released] is being held at an undisclosed laser-tag facility and is closed to the public. After viewing the commercial, the volunteers will enjoy pizza and laser-tag.
Reporters were under strict orders not to publicize the advertisement until its formal release tonight at 7:20 p.m. Reporters complied. Not out of respect, really, but because we didn’t care.
This, my friends, is the cutting-edge technology, all four minutes of it:
If you don’t have the patience to listen to the man with the slow drawl talk about “Obama liberals” and choppy animations of “The Ox” headbutting a rat all the way to ole socialist France, then we’ve provided screenshots for your enjoyment after the jump.
When Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle announced on April 15 that he decided to drop his bid for governor, rumors started flying that the reason he gave — complicated back surgery — was a white lie, and that Cagle had actually been confronted with damaging evidence that would’ve hurt his campaign.
People pointed fingers at Cagle’s opponent for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, Georgia Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner John Oxendine. Others whispered it was Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel, another challenger. Some said it was those pesky Democrats, kicking up dirt and slinging mud. But these rumors were never reported by the press because they were just rumors.
Around that time, I searched Oxendine’s campaign reports to see if there were any odd expenses. I noticed one for Investigative Consultants International, an Alpharetta-based private eye firm. Its founder, T.J. Ward, rose to the national spotlight for his involvement with the search for Natalee Holloway, the coed who disappeared during a spring break trip in Aruba.
Jim Galloway yesterday morning reported that James Salzer and Cam McWhirter contacted the Oxendine campaign for clarification about the item. All Tim Echols, the commissioner’s campaign manager would tell the reporters was “campaigns routinely hire investigators.”
That might be all Echols, who took on the role of campaign manager two weeks ago, will say. But Jeff Breedlove, Oxendine’s chief strategist, was a bit more open with CL a few months ago.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Poythress says a recent Rasmussen poll that both former Governor Roy Barnes and state Insurance Commissioner John “PAC Man” Oxendine enjoy strong leads in the 2010 governor’s race was kind of quirky.
In an email blast to supporters today, Poythress basically says the poll’s sample size wasn’t large enough and that chicks dig him. Oh, and that Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker, one of Poythress’ Democratic opponents, either lost a lot of support since the last poll was conducted or never had any to begin with.
1. The sample was only 247 respondents. Most legitimate statewide polls require no less than 400-600 respondents to get an accurate gauge on public opinion;
2. The crosstabs show that all of the respondents supporting me were all female. While I believe I have strong support across the state among women, the fact that not a single male supported me suggests a badly skewed sampling process;
3. Another poll released last week showed Thurbert Baker at 30%, in this poll he was at 8%. I seriously doubt that the Attorney General has dropped 22% in the span of a week. Clearly one of these polls is way off base!
We’re not pollsters, but maybe Poythress is right about the first gripe. And women do like a man in uniform. On the last point…well, maybe it’s only THE OX that’s immune to front-page stories about campaign contributions. (UPDATE: Yes, yes, we know the Rasmussen poll was conducted on June 17, prior to the AJC’s story about Baker’s allegedly questionable campaign contributions. Just some snark and a poke at the AJC-hates-Oxendine contingent, folks.)
(Photo by Joeff Davis)
Dear God almighty. Men, women and children unfortunate enough to still find themselves receiving emails from former DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones’ unsuccessful U.S. Senate campaign were greeted by a missive today. Atlanta web strategist Brandon Sheats was one of them. He was kind enough to pass it along.
It reads:
Vernon Jones has been getting a lot of email from you about running for Governor. I agree with you, Vernon would make a great Governor. You recently heard from him reiterating his passion for Georgia, especially regarding addressing critical issues like transportation, education, air and water quality, and creating jobs for Georgians. Vernon is considering all of your feedback and will make a wise decision that’s best for him, his family and all Georgians.
Vernon thanks you and welcomes your continued input. You may reach him at vernonjones(at)georgia(dot)usa(dot)com or by calling 404.419.6034.
Jones has been lying low since he lost the Democrat nomination for U.S. Senate to Jim Martin. (Martin was ultimately defeated by incumbent Saxby Chambliss in a runoff.) There were rumors that he was living in Washington, D.C. In a “thank you” email to supporters after the primary, he said he was spending time with his family. Just yesterday, CL columnist Andisheh “Bronson” Nouraee tweeted that he saw a former DeKalb CEO at the Edgewood Best Buy shopping for a TV set. Wonder who that could’ve been, hmm?
Now, have Georgians really been sending Jones crayon-scribbled notes delivered by carrier pigeon begging him to run? Probably not. We’re screaming “trial balloon,” a la Robb Pitts. But as people who make their bread and butter off the political aspirations of larger-than-life characters, CL’s nonprofit consulting arm would be remiss not to reach out to Jones and say…wha?
(Photo by Joeff Davis)
Now that Roy Barnes has jumped in the 2010 governor’s race, where does that leave other Democratic challengers who’ve already announced their plans? Here’s what we’re hearing from little birds that land on our windowsill, chirp silly songs, and blurt rays of gossipy sunshine into our dark and twisted lives:
How Barnes’ announcement affects downticket races remains to be seen. We’re hearing Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond — “a team player,” one li’l birdie says — might make another run for his seat. He’d been rumored to be considering a run for lieutenant governor. “Whatever’s the best for the party, Thurmond will do,” our source says.
(Photos by Joeff Davis)
Jim Galloway reports:
Roy Barnes will announce today that he intends to become the first former Georgia governor in a half-century to reclaim the office after being turned out by voters.
The announcement is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in Marietta. Barnes, we’re told, will delay the actual start of his campaign until July, in order to wrap up some trial work and finish up as chairman of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
Barnes, 61, enters a field already occupied by three Democrats — Attorney General Thurbert Baker, House Minority Leader DuBose Porter, and David Poythress, former commander of the Georgia National Guard.
…Polling in anticipation of a Barnes return indicates the former governor becomes the immediate favorite in the primary, though he also carries the burdens that caused voters to reject his bid for a second term — teachers who resented his attack on a tenure system, Confederate enthusiasts angered by his hauling down the ’56 state flag, and residents found themselves the path of a now- defunct Northern Arc.
Check out Galloway’s full post for more information and background. Insider Advantage’s Dick Pettys notes Barnes just might face off with some of the same political strategists who helped launch Gov. Sonny Perdue into the West Paces Ferry residence.
(Photo by Joeff Davis)
It’s been posted elsewhere, but deserves a mention here.
Democrat gubernatorial candidate David Poythress released a video yesterday that’s sure to squelch the macho man talk about Georgia seceding from the Union (can’t believe I just typed those words). Poythress, who adds that he’s the only announced gubernatorial candidate to have served in the armed forces, whacked several GOP candidates for entertaining the notion of bringing the Peach State back to the Dark Ages.
John Oxendine likes the Twitterz. He loves the insurance moniez (but gives it back). And he hates the abortionz.
A video uploaded to YouTube three days ago — but filled with heady rhetoric from 2002 — shows the GOP gubernatorial candidate addressing people in what appears to be a subdivision clubhouse. Or maybe it’s a Rooms To Go showroom. Regardless, it’s creepy.
In the video, Oxendine says if elected governor he’ll “make it so uncomfortable that Planned Parenthood is not going to be able to operate in this state and they’re going to start losing money, and we’re going to make it economically difficult for them…Yes, they will be out of business in Georgia. They will leave the State of Georgia.” He then says Planned Parenthood is a business and “they’re in it to make money. Cue the “they don’t mind killing babies” shortly thereafter. (3:45 in the video)
Well, let’s see what’s on the ole Twitter, eh? Oh, what’s this? John Oxendine for Governor? Why, “The Ox” is the frontrunner for the Republican nomination to lead the great state of Georgia! What did he do this weekend?
(Turns Twitter off, commences to weep)
State Sen. David Shafer, R-Duluth, says he’s dropping out of the lieutenant governor race. He will instead seek re-election in the Senate.
From Shafer’s campaign:
Today I am fully suspending my campaign for Lieutenant Governor with the intention of seeking re-election to the State Senate.
I will always be grateful to those who have so generously supported my candidacy. I am especially proud of the endorsements from my colleagues in the Georgia General Assembly and our strong showing in the various Republican straw polls.
I was relieved to learn that the Lieutenant Governor’s surgery went well and that his doctors are optimistic about his ability to actively campaign for re-election. He has been a friend for many years, and I wish him a speedy return to full health.
I would not have entered the race had it not been an open seat, and there is no point in remaining in it as long as the Lieutenant Governor is well enough to be a candidate for re-election.
Public service is, by definition, about serving others, not the positions or titles that we want for ourselves.
Dr. Bill Sheals and Matt Reeves have agreed to serve as honorary co-chairs of my re-election campaign.
(Photo by Joeff Davis)
State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, a 2010 Republican candidate for governor, sat down with Fox5’s Paul Yates in one of the station’s series of interviews with gubernatorial hopefuls. The commenters at Peach Pundit are debating Oxendine’s position that the government is responsible for providing water to its citizenry.
But it was “The Ox’s” comment that cash-strapped MARTA needs to be “reworked” — and that the state should examine the pros and cons of privatizing the system — that caught my eye.
(Hat tip to Jim Galloway and Jason Shepard at Peach Pundit)
Save your energy, gents — the 2010 governor’s race is going to be a long and tiresome slog.
From the AJC’s Gold Dome Live:
In a post-General Assembly session interview with the AJC this week, Oxendine, who holds a law degree, took some pointed shots at the way Cagle, who doesn’t have a college degree, thinks.
“The Legislature and the presiding officers, and more so with Cagle, would rather have the status quo than have somebody else get their way,” Oxendine said. “If change means somebody else’s idea, he (Cagle) would rather have the status quo.
“The status quo is the easy way to govern. It doesn’t take a lot of thinking, it’s not brain surgery. To do things differently requires intellectual thought and sometimes he may prefer the easy way out. I think sometimes he just prefers the easy way out, of saying, ‘I’ll stick with the status quo, that way I don’t have to think hard.”
(Photo by Joeff Davis)
Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel makes it official:
Handel announced she’d filed the paperwork to begin raising money for the race. Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, two other Republicans, started raising money for the 2010 governor?s race last year.
“Our next governor will face many difficult challenges,” Handel said. “I look forward to meeting those challenges with exciting new ideas and a vision that will put us on the path to growth and prosperity.”
The Cairo, Ga., resident — who ran for Public Service Commission last year — is set to announce his bid at 4 p.m. tomorrow at the Capitol.
From an e-mail release:
Monds and the Libertarian Party believe Georgians are ready for something new and different. “It’s difficult to tell the difference between Republicans and Democrats; both want to raise your taxes, waste your money and increase the size and scope of state government,” said Monds.
“We must be competitive in the 21st Century. We must have meaningful tax reform that allows businesses and individuals to thrive, a transportation system that eases congestion without raising taxes, an education system that gives more choices and returns control to the local level, and we need to stop wasting the taxpayers’ money with mandated long term incarceration of individuals for non-violent victimless infractions of the law”
John Monds, 43, is a graduate of Morehouse College with a degree in Banking and Finance, President of the Grady County NAACP and currently serves on the Grady County Planning Commission.
Former Georgia lawmaker Mary Squires says she’s running for insurance commissioner in 2010.
Squires served several terms in the state House of Representatives and Senate. In 2004, she made an unsuccessful bid for U.S. Senate as a Democrat. The Atlanta resident now heads the Georgia Society of Professional Benefit Administrators, Inc., a self-insured health care trade association. She’s also director and CEO of the Olive Industry Association, a national agriculture research and trade association.
“I am excited to be the first candidate in the race for insurance commissioner,” Squires said in a press release. “It is a very important position. The insurance commissioner impacts the quality of life for every day Georgians more than any other race in 2010.”
