Fresh Loaf

Jim Galloway of the AJC’s Political Insider — who did a great job as a panelist during last night’s Atlanta Press Club U.S. Senate debate/finger-pointing quibblefest — posts a memo from State Elections Boardmember Randy Evans. Evans says it could be Wednesday morning before all votes are counted.

From the memo:

Based on the most recent data, it appears that there are in fact three real reasons regarding why Georgia may not know the winner of the 2008 general election until Wednesday.

If we have a two- to four-hour line, as expected in many precincts around Georgia, it could be 9 p.m. or later before voters are done. Counties that finish earlier can start to tabulate votes immediately and some returns will come in early. However, the outcome will likely have to wait until all votes are in, and then tabulated. This could be late on Tuesday or possibly on Wednesday morning.

He then reminds us of absentee and provisional ballots. Click here to read what Evans has to say about those pesky devils.

(Awesome Vivarin car photo from RacingRoadTrip)

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U.S. Senate hopeful Vernon Jones will announce several endorsements at 2 p.m. outside the Old DeKalb County courthouse in downtown Decatur.

PRESS RELEASE

For more information contact:
Camille Kesler
Phone: [redacted
Email: [redacted]

Vernon Jones to Announce Endorsements Today at 2pm

Vernon Jones, Democratic candidate for the United States Senate, will hold a press conference today, July 29, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. E.D.T. on the steps of the Old DeKalb County Courthouse in downtown Decatur. Jones will announce the endorsement of elected officials. “No one becomes successful alone; that is why I am so grateful to the community leaders who have endorsed me and my message of hope and positive change for Georgia,” said Vernon Jones.

The Old DeKalb County Courthouse is located at 100 East Court Square, Decatur, GA 30030 near the intersection of East Court Square and East Ponce de Leon Ave.

Just a heads up, Jones campaign: It helps to get the word out about such events a little earlier than an hour or two beforehand.

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UPDATE: As mentioned in the comments and this post, a Fulton County Superior Court judge has ruled Jim Powell is still a candidate for the Public Service Commission District 4 Democratic primary.

Big news coming from Dick Pettys at InsiderAdvantage. Secretary of State Karen Handel has booted Jim Powell, one of the Democrats vying for the District 4 Public Service Commission race, off the ballot because of residency concerns. Odd judging that just a few weeks ago a judge ruled he had met the requirements.

From Pettys:

In a statement issued by her press office shortly before noon, Handel said James R. Powell does not meet the residency requirements for PSC District 4, a seat now held by retiring Commissioner Angela Speir.

Handel said notices of his disqualification will be placed at the polling places tomorrow, and votes cast for Powell will not be counted.

She said she found that Powell owns a home in Towns County, which is within District 4, but that at the time he qualified, he received a homestead exemption and continued to receive mail at a home he owns in Cobb County, which is not within the district.

The ruling leaves Bob Indech the only Democratic candidate in the race while Lauren McDonald and Pam Davidson are competing for the GOP nod. The winner will compete with Indech and Libertarian Brandon Givens in November.

UPDATE: Blog for Democracy has an interesting post up about Powell’s disqualification.

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Gov. Sonny Perdue duped all of us, folks. While we stood together as Jaw-juhns and prayed for rain, the Man From Bonair was actually asking God to bless our nation with a Republican presidential candidate who’d consider him as a running mate.

InsiderAdvantage’s Matt Towery is reporting “strong national sources” are whispering about Perdue being one of the top four prospects for vice president. If he doesn’t snag the no. 2 spot, he’d at least be “a player” in McCain’s administration.

But why pick Perdue?

Oh, hey Matt. Come sit a spell:

Why? First, Perdue has strong approval ratings in his home state. Second, his home state is now in play and could, in a perfect storm, become the decision-maker of 2008. Third, former Sen. Sam Nunn, according to both Time and Newsweek, is an eye-blink away from being the Democratic nominee for VP. But Perdue’s name identification and popularity as a current Governor would easily eclipse that of Nunn.

So enter Sonny Perdue, former head of the Republican Governor’s Conference and a consensus style GOP leader.

Mere conjecture? Nope. Perdue, according to strong national sources, has risen to the top four in the veepstakes. Whether he’s the eventual choice or not, look for him to be a player in a McCain administration.

Attention to Sen. McCain, one of this blog’s loyal readers: Put Perdue in a position where he truly shines.

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The election for the DOT Board seat left vacant by Mike Evans — he who fell in looooove — wasn’t nearly as contentious as the one earlier this year. Those races left a couple of state representatives who didn’t side with Speaker Glenn Richardson’s pick finding themselves relocated to less prestigious offices and losing committee appointments.

But that’s the past, man. Everybody behaved themselves this go-round. And now that Evans and DOT Commissioner are planning their nuptials, we, the gridlock-enslaved scribes of the city, present to you…Steve Farrow! (He’s a former state senator and attorney who oddly enough, seems to have never been photographed in his life. No, I don’t think this guy holding the lobster is him.)

After the jump, the requisite press release giving you the background on Farrow.

(more…)

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