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.
John Oxendine
On Oct. 15, GOP gubernatorial candidate John Oxendine e-mailed supporters to alert them to a “vicious attack” by “homosexual activists” at local gay weekly Southern Voice regarding his defense of marriage between a man and a woman. He asked supporters to help him fight the “gay lobby” — by donating money, of course.
“The radical homosexual activists over at Southern Voice have launched a vicious attack on me — by name — for my defense of traditional marriage in America. These homosexual activists join a long and growing list of those on the radical Left who are, by their very attack, acknowledging who the true conservative is in this campaign and who they are afraid of.”
— Oxendine, in an Oct. 15 e-mail to campaign supporters
“Those who are engaged in homosexual behavior are people—who need love and forgiveness, and who need to understand the love of God.”
— Oxendine, in an Oct. 9 e-mail to supporters
“So sacred is your marriage that when your baby Jake is born, you immediately put him in a starring role in one of your campaign ad commercials? No way is that exploiting the family, right?”
— Southern Voice news editor Dyana Bagby, in the Oct. 12 blog post that raised Oxendine’s ire
“Marriage has not, in fact, ‘always been’ between ‘a man and a woman’ — for most of the period of the Old Testament, from which Oxendine and his brethren like to quote a certain passage from Leviticus to condemn us, marriage was between a man and several women.”
— Southern Voice Editor Laura Douglas-Brown, in an Oct. 15 response to Oxendine’s plea for funds
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.
State Sen. Jeff Chapman, R-Brunswick, confirms via email that he’s added his name to the long list of elephants who hope to be Georgia’s next governor.
Chapman’s efforts to protect Jekyll Island from what many called inappropriate development won him fans from both parties. His stance on that issue also irked plenty of people, including members of his own party, as the deal was proposed by well-known GOP fundraisers. Chapman recently voiced his support for more serious water conservation measures.
Jim Galloway notes that this might be a bit of a disheartening news to Johnson, who most likely enjoyed the strongest coastal Georgia support of any of the candidates.
The state lawmaker’s opponents for the 2010 GOP gubernatorial nomination include state Rep. Austin Scott of Tifton, Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel, state Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, state Sen. Eric Johnson of Savannah and U.S. Congressman Nathan Deal. Oh yeah, and Ray McBerry of McDonough.
Last week, state Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine was touting a Rasmussen poll that indicated he was leading the GOP race for governor — with a solid 10 months to go before the primary, mind you.
Well, now the Ox is trumpeting another poll, this one by San Diego-based Strategic Vision, that again shows him with a comfortable lead. According to the results, Oxendine is polling at 39 percent — more than the five other Republican candidates put together. The undecideds come in at about 25 percent.
Just like last time, Oxendine’s campaign manager Tim Echols claims his candidate is “humbled by these results,” which I don’t believe for an instant.
Don't worry, bears. John Oxendine hears you!
No, not those bears! (Update – Or even these bears.)
Back in May, we posted a video in which Republican gubernatorial candidate John “I have enough guns in my house to take over a small Caribbean country” Oxendine said, if elected, he’d run Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers out of the state. Go and watch the clip, it’s nice and creepy.
This morning, Oxendine went even more public with his vow. He echoed his pledge to run abortion providers out of Georgia. He signed the Right to Life pledge. He’s been doing all the right things. But he’s not editing!
“If elected, I will use the power of the Governor’s office to create an environment where abortion providers will not want to do business in Georgia any longer,” said Oxendine, now the proud dad of a new baby boy. “The Oxendine Administration will enforce existing laws and use the state Constitution to put Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers out of their grizzly business.”
Planned Parenthood, you’ve been exposed as the bear-smuggling heathens we all knew you were. For shame.
(H/T to Dash Riptide at Peach Pundit for the catch, Bears photo courtesy Wikipedia)
Laura Douglas-Brown of the Southern Voice points our attention to Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel’s rather blunt stance on gay marriage, expressed several months ago in her “bring it on” campaign video.
Surprise! The GOP gubernatorial candidate opposes the idea and will fight efforts to show respect to gay men and women who’d like to enjoy the same legal rights as straight people! Including divorce!
The electoral process is a beautiful thing. A virtual unknown with no name recognition or family connections can say he or she wants to serve the public, and then go on to do so, often times with little or no money. It’s happened before, it’ll happen again.
In Georgia, a part-time barrister from Mableton has decided he’d like to be governor. Sure, he doesn’t have much experience. Sure, he’s running against some big-name candidates. But Bill Laimbeer said it best: “Everyone should run for Georgia governor at least once in their lifetime.” Damn right, Bill. Damn right.
The dark horse candidate today launched something called a “World Wide Web site” and even posted this adorable video showing he doesn’t have a real campaign office or telephones. So cute!
(H/T to Gold Dome Live, a small blog operated by a community newspaper.)
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.
Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine took to the Twitterverse earlier to announce he’d raised about $420,000 in his quest to become the GOP gubernatorial nominee. His campaign says he’s raised a total of $1.45 million to date and has “slightly over one million” cash on hand.
“John Oxendine’s positive message offering real solutions for the issues facing Georgia is clearly resonating with people all across the state,” said Tim Echols, campaign manager. “John Oxendine’s Contract with Georgia offers specific policy solutions the people of Georgia are looking for from a leader.”
Hmmm. Positive messages.
Last Thursday, Oxendine’s supporters heard a little bit of that positivity. In an email to fellow members of the Ox Army, the candidate asked supporters to scrounge up whatever coins they had in their couches, seal them in an email, and fax them to his campaign. The deadline for fund-raising reports was drawing near, Oxendine wrote, and he wanted to frighten his fellow elephants fighting for the nomination.
Sure, Oxendine touted the “Contract with Georgia” you’ll be hearing a lot about. But he also looked into the future, saw that former Gov. Roy Barnes had won the Democrat nomination, and decided it was time for some scare tactics!
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)
The last time he ran, he was clobbered by a little-known challenger with a fraction of the funding. It’s been nearly eight years since his name appeared on a ballot. And the state became decidedly redder in the meantime.
By most standards, ex-Gov. Roy Barnes should be a political has-been.
But the reality is that, during the months he spent deciding whether to try to get his old job back, Barnes was seen as the 800-pound gorilla lurking over the governor’s race. Now that he’s officially thrown his hat into the ring, he’s almost universally viewed as the instant front-runner — insofar as that term has any real meaning a full year before the Democratic primary.
On the face of it, the celebrated re-run of Roy Barnes is arguably evidence that the Georgia Democratic Party is in a woeful state. When a defeated former governor — even one with legendary charisma and proven fundraising ability — can set aside his elder statesman duties and immediately vault to the front of the pack running for the state’s highest post, that doesn’t speak well for his party’s depth of electable talent.
Still, there’s reason to believe that the Barnes candidacy could help give the Democrats their best shot at recapturing the Governor’s Mansion, as well as several other statewide seats. And even if Barnes isn’t his party’s nominee, says Emory political science professor Alan Abramowitz, “It looks like the Democrats have a decent shot at winning back the governor’s office.”
Continue reading “Roy Barnes’ bid for governor reshapes the political landscape”
1. The word is a ‘ghetto’ (We posed a question to readers — Is the word “ghetto” so off limits it’s become, um, ghettoized? — and y’all had some interesting things to say. Thanks!)
2. Atlanta: America’s ’second least safe city’? (The stats suggest that could be the case, but some aren’t so sure.)
3. Roy Barnes: Tanned, rested and ready (Barnes is baaaaaaaack! And the governor’s race is about to get a helluva lot more interesting.)
4. Biden to Perdue on rail funding: ‘Georgia gets nothing’ (VP: Just joshin’, Sonny!)
5. Less-than-fond memories of Barnes’ first term (Not everyone is enamored of the former guv and his bid to get his old job back.)
*This blog post has been edited to correct an error.
Christopher Barber, who wants ballot access eased, said we could use this awesome photo of him and one of God's most poetic creatures
For decades, most third-party candidates in Georgia who wanted to gain ballot access have had to circulate petitions and gather signatures. The process has been derided as unfair, unnecessary and an obstacle to public service.
And now, a Libertarian Party of Georgia member has asked Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel — who’s also a gubernatorial candidate — to ease third-party ballot access in the Peach State.
In a letter sent last Friday to the Secretary of State’s office, DeKalb County resident Christopher Barber — who’s allowed me to reveal his identity as the mysterious “man in the Hawaiian shirt” from previous posts — asks Handel to embrace the Internet and TEAR DOWN THIS WALL.
Barber says allowing potential candidates to petition via e-mail for ballot access would save her department — and in turn, Georgia taxpayers — money.
Judging that Handel has been gung-ho on cutting her department’s waste and keeping elections fair — and considering the allure of winning the kind graces of the burgeoning number of residents who identify with the Libertarian platform — this should make for some interesting theater.
More from the letter — and a copy of the letter itself — after the jump.
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)
The AJC’s Jim Galloway reports from Hall County:
Gainesville — In front of hundreds of supporters on the Hall County courthouse plaza, U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal announced for governor this morning, emphasizing his own experience as a state senator and 17-year member of Congress.
While he didn’t use the phrase, the 66-year-old Deal — the oldest of six Republicans now in the race — appears to be running as the adult in the room.
“If you want a governor who does his own thinking, writes his own speeches, and ties his own shoes, if you want all these things in your next governor, have I got a deal for you,” the congressman said.
Galloway has more here. Frankly, we want a DNA test to be sure we’re not getting tricked.
Meet Neal Horsley. The longshot candidate for Georgia governor for the Creator’s Rights Party (warning: graphic images) is everything this state needs.
He’s techno-savvy:
Neal Horsley made national headlines when he posted the names, phone numbers and addresses of abortion doctors online. His “Nuremberg Files” website also crossed off the names of doctors as they were killed.
He works well with all God’s creations, evident in this article’s headline:
And he’s a family man! Horsley, the father of a U.S. Army sergeant, basically says in an interview with the Examiner’s Dylan Otto Krider that he’d kill his son if the young man tried to stop Georgia from seceding. Krider writes that Horsley thinks the best way pro-life advocates can overturn Roe v. Wade is to “take over a state, then hole up and wait for the United States army to come for a kind of Alamo last stand.”
Well, at least he’s candid. Former CL senior editor Steve Fennessy profiled Horsley in 2004. Read Krider’s interviews with Horsley here and here. If you’re not eating lunch, it’s a good time to learn about the perils of mule sex. And it’s exactly the kind of weird-ass journalism for which Fridays were made.
