Everybody is talking about the Ox story, but nobody is talking about the story behind the story.
My question is: who tipped off the AJC? The reporters could very well have come up with the information themselves, but I very much doubt that the AJC did.
If the Democrats had done it they’d have used George Anderson. He’s not involved, so it isn’t the Democrats.
That leaves the Republicans. But who?
The logical choice is Handel. But she is not the only choice. I suspect Johnson and Handel are more likely than Deal or Scott.
The most titillating, but least likely, choice that I’ve heard from a couple reporters (literally — just two) and a handful of politicians is folks formerly connected to Casey Cagle.
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By the way, who is Cagle supporting behind the scenes? How about Sonny? Also, with Ox stumbling all over himself and Handel’s #1 resume highlight being overturned by the DOJ, who slides up the board? Johnson, Deal, or Scott?
I’m not sure who supplied the story, but the last poll I saw had Deal ahead of Handel, but not by much. What is surprising on that poll is that is was taken less than three weeks of Deal entering the race. This after Handel and others had been campaigning for months. I have heard that Sonny will be backing Handel, but that’s just rumor as far as I know. Cagle and Deal are from the same county.
Handel vs. the DOJ helps her in a primary, rather than hurts her.
Johnson is poised to pick up a lot of Oxendine support as he continues to implode. Johnson actually has a legislative record that matches most of Ox’s rhetoric.
Deal, meanwhile, is quitely playing the tortise to the others’ hare. He’s getting real support from several members of Congress, not just their name signed to a press release.
If I had to guess today, I would say Handel and Deal in a runoff, but Johnson will definitely keep it interesting, and a lot can and will happen that could affect the 1-2-3 place finish.
Icarus definition of an imploding campaign: Ox holding a double digit lead in all polls.
The only thing that Ickie gets right is ” a lot can and will happen that could affect the 1-2-3 place finish,” as Ox finishes first with the only horse race continuing to be if Handel or Deal will place or show.
Uhhhhhhhh….they explained it in the very first story.
“In researching an unrelated story on health insurance in Georgia, a reporter reviewed John Oxendine’s most recent campaign finance reports filed with the Georgia Ethics Commission. The reporter found 10 political action committees donating the exact same amounts of money on the exact same dates. The PACs were all located in Birmingham. Records of The Alabama Secretary of State’s Office showed the PACs all had the same addresses and the same chairperson, the son of lawyer and businessman Donald V. Watkins.”
Next
Don’t look now, but Roy is in.
Members of the Senate Caucus will not support EJ. Back to the drawing board for him.
The question is who tipped off the tipper? I’m hearing a some of the Ox staffer have become disenfranchised with their leader and have been passing information on to other campaigns.
Does anyone remember those R.I.F. commercials from the 70s?
My guess would be Cagle or Cagle’s people as well… as retaliation. I had heard it was Ox and Ox’s campaign that was spreading the rumor and leaking the story of Cagle’s “pain in the neck” that lead to him dropping out of the guv race.
Did anyone read where I pointed out the AJC explained exactly what lead them down this path and it was not anonymous tips?
well yeah that’s what they said–but i would think you, of all people, would be especially skeptical of the explanations of the ajc, no?
Face it: we may never know.
drjay, why would I have any reason to not believe them? My criticism of the AJC has always been leveled at management – not the staff writers. In fact, I complimented them on this new feature where they explain the genesis of a story.
But let’s use Occam’s Razor
A staff writer actually got a whisper in the ear from some campaign staffer, wrote an article about it then LIED in that article (a career ending action if caught) about how the story originated
or
A staff writer was reviewing campaign finance forms (pretty routine) discovered something that looked odd, researched the oddity and it led to an article.
Speculation is fun when there’s nothing to counter it. Here there is.
I wish someone had a definitive link to an article from the AJC that would explain how they found this story.
And Rugby attacks the Ox again by demanding a link to the lib’ral AJC.
so sad
Make griftdrift Feel Invisible Day was going so well, too.
I tipped them off. There, mystery solved.
well whatever i still say a goldberg machine is much more interesting than an occam razor anyday…
It is normal for newspapers to file info requests and to go thru public records.
My understanding is they have read everything available [ at Ins Department] and that’s about all they could come up with for dirt.
Every elected offical has political appointments in their office vs those lifer state employees. The Ox has had some people for up to 14 years who must find ANOTHER 6 years or more to retire [state pension].
Not unusual for people to play both ends at the same time to make sure they get something from the next administration……..just in case.
It is not approved to water board or pentothol your current staff.
I can assure you that many on “lifer status” and minorites vote Democratic.
No question that some in Ox’s inner circle are trying to find a future home in another state government agency. Et Tu Brute.
The same person or people responsible for Paul Broun not being sworn in are the same people/person that tipped off of the AJC about Ox.
There’s a poll over at accessnorthga.com today asking who you support for governor. It includes candidates from multiple parties. Since it’s a Gainesville-based site, I bet you all can guess who’s winning.
is it kelli?
Martha Zoller?
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