I know this is what you’re all waiting for, so I’ll cut to the chase since I was chastised for just posting numbers from the Columbus poll. Mr. Invincible, Mike Evans ABSOLUTELY DOMINATED the race for… 6th place in the 9th CD balloting (9 votes). He denied this spot from others such as Mike Cowan (9th place, 1 vote), Bobby Reese (8th, 6 votes), and Tom Dooley (7th, 7 votes). I’m sure Mike’s team will issue a press release soon demonstrating that his overwhelming fundraising advantage combined with his commitment to lobbying for Obama stimulus money according to the most stringent of conservative standards propelled him to this victory in the battle for sixth place.
As for the race for first place, the Evans team obviously wouldn’t compete in such an unseemly contest so close to 9/11. This left the race wide open for Tom Graves, who dominated the 9 man field with 54% of the total vote. (120 of 221 total votes). Bill Stephens came in 2nd with 31 votes, Jeremy Jones a respectable 3rd with 22 votes, Lee Hawkins was 4th with 15 votes, and Steve Tarvin, despite lacking Evans’ overwhelming fundraising advantage and self-proclaimed invincible status, came in 5th with 10 votes.
As expected, Nathan Deal dominated the Governor’s contest in his home district, with 82 total votes. Karen Handel won the battle for “1st place for someone not from this district”, edging out Eric Johnson with 41 and 39 votes respectively. The results for 4th and 5th place were identical as the Muscogee poll earlier this week, where John Oxendine (whose supporters are also willing to claim the “invincible” title) barely edged out Austin Scott with 34 and 31 votes respectively. Ox has spent a lot of time kissing up to the party structure in the metro counties, but Muscogee and now Union counties appear unimpressed with this poll driven front runner. It should also be equally noted that Austin Scott is resonating at about the same level as The Ox in these non-metro contests. Rounding out the Governor’s race are Ray McBerry (10 votes) and Jeff Chapman (2 votes).
The race for Secretary of State represents another strong win for Doug MacGinnitie over Brian Kemp, 124 to 86. I’m not sure either candidate can consider Union County part of their base, and neither was in attendance at the event. I’ve got to say that MacGinnitie’s series of strong showings in straw polls demonstrates that he is at a minimum a serious contender, and probably much more, in this contest.
Gerry Purcell and Seth Harp swapped places from overwhelming first and second place from the Muscogee poll, with many others I don’t feel like typing right now coming in 3rd thru 112th.
Kathy Cox won but did not receive a majority of votes with Richard Woods and Roger Hines placing second and third. Sam Olens edged out Max Wood 87 to 73, and Gary Black whipped Darwin Carter 171 to 35.
Full votes are here:
US SENATE:
Johnny Isakson 171
Write-in:
Aleq Boyle 1
Ben Brandon 1
Paul Broun 2
Jeremy Jones 1
Chuck Luca 2
Chip Rogers 1
GOVERNOR:
Jeff Chapman 2
Nathan Deal 82
Karen Handel 41
Eric Johnson 39
Ray McBerry 10
John Oxendine 34
Austin Scott 31
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR:
Casey Cagle 164
Write-in:
Herman Cain 3
Michael Gastor 2
Eric Johnson 1
Mary Ann Pearson 2
David Shafer 5
Steve Stancil 1
SECRETARY OF STATE:
Brian Kemp 86
Doug MacGinnitie 124
ATTORNEY GENERAL:
Sam Olens 87
Max Wood 73
Write-in:
Robert Highsmith 5
Ed Lindsey 1
David Ralson 2
STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT:
Kathy Cox 85
Roger Hines 51
Richard Woods 63
STATE AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER:
Gary Black 171
Darwin Carter 35
STATE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER:
John Fuchko 9
Seth Harp 39
Ralph Hudgens 10
Tom Knox 12
Harold Logsdon 7
Stephen Northington 19
Gerry Purcell 112
Maria Sheffield 1
STATE LABOR COMMISSIONER:
Melvin Everson 186
US CONGRESS (District 9):
Mike Cowan 1
Tom Dooley 7
Mike Evans 9
Tom Graves 120
Lee Hawkins 15
Jeremy Jones 22
Bobby Reese 6
Bill Stephens 31
Steve Tarvin 10
{ 1 trackback }
{ 33 comments }
Can someone on the GOP side explain Darwin Carter? I went to his website and it seems he was part of the Reagan and Bush administrations. I know that Black has basically been running since Irvin spanked him in 2006, but still, I’d think with Carter’s background he might fare a bit better in the straw polls. He’s also never mentioned anywhere.
To be honest, the first I had heard of him was when I got the results of the Muscogee straw poll (not directly from the Muscogee Republican women) and his name was listed as Darwin Black…
It’s still early, and he has time to get his message out. But at this stage of the game, I can’t answer your question.
i met him at the state convention, which of course prompted me to research him a bit–i think he actually ran for congress back in the 80’s and then moved to massachussetts and ran for senate in the 90’s and is now in ga again…
i’m not sure how he feels about monsanto…
Wasn’t there a local sportscaster who would have a regular edition of “Who Cares? Sports”? File this under that. Similar to navel gazing and watching the Braves late in September.
Hey folks, it is an honor to be at the top of the list as a challenger to the Isakson, I am just short about ten mill to really consider it. OK will try if I had say a million. The party must move our solid agenda by not cow towing to bailing out failing companies. Cash for Clunkers what a BS piece work. If the liberal Green Folks had had a brain they would have made the monies only good for gas guzzlers traded in for hybrids and economy vehicles that pushed 30 mpg and over. No bail outs, secure the borders between Mexico and ship every alien home lets have a round up. If I were to run- I would have the alien catch and return program, 5k solar refund for a 25% reduction in your home energy cots by implementing an active solar system. We would build a massive desalination plant in Effingham (Savannah) County them pump systems and feed Atlanta all the water they need. Initiate some of the Obama monies to build a high speed rail linking Chattanooga to Atlanta then start building from both sides linking the New North South Rail Project. If the Dems are going to blow it at least let Georgia gain significantly from the expenditures. God Bless and please know-
I am Pro-life, Fiscal Conservative, Republican. Some times not so politically correct. I approve this message. Aleq Boyle
Aleq,
Don’t forget your Stand-by Alternate status at the national GOP convention. That was no small feat considering you were a presidential elector for the Libertarian Party in 2004. I am kinda curious as to how you ran as a delegate pledged to Fred Thompson when I didn’t see you at the GOP County, District, or State conventions in 2008.
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/sep/02/tennessee-gop-convention-opens-somberly/
I don’t think we need your entire resume online for everyone, but good luck in your race for the US Senate should you win the lottery!
I love the spin on these straw polls. Congrats to Deal, Cagle, Graves, Purcell, and McGinnitie and the others that won today. Karen Handel bought 20 something tickets today, but she only got 41 votes. Maybe her “solid” performance is mediocre at best.
Most of Handel’s support was from Fulton and DeKalb County tags. Is Handel sending the same 20 or 30 people everywhere to vote in straw polls to make her look like a viable candidate, or is she simply padding her numbers in rural areas to make her look like a potential top-tier candidate?
Um, I think you have your candidates confused – it was actually Oxendine that has been shipping them in for the straw polls. Word had it that they were desperately sending messages on Facebook and such saying that the first 20 people would have their tickets paid for.
MR,
Lest you forget as Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel won that statewide office – an accomplishent which required more than electors of just 2 of 159 counties in Georgia.
There has been enough analysis about the Governor’s race to kill a snake, but not so much talk on the others.
One caveat to that: The only candidate who had a home field advantage in Union County in the Governor’s race was Nathan Deal. With so much turnout from other 9th District volunteers for the various Congressional Campaigns, Deal should have at least captured over 50% of the district vote. The fact that he only received 34% says a lot about how they view him and the intensity of his support there. By contrast, Tom Graves won with over 60% of the vote.
Nathan Deal is the Fred Thompson of Georgia without the charisma — it’s all talk and no sizzle. If you want your government to be conducted in the back room with insider deals and sneaky no bid government contracts and monopolies, than oh boy does Nathan have a deal for you!
Now for the other races:
It’s a measure of who is working the events, who is actually taking the time to talk to people, engage them in a conversation and listen to their concerns and persuade them to support their candidate. Thus, you are seeing some real talent rise to the top…
No one knew Gerry Purcell a few months ago but his personal style is winning supporters over. He works hard and it shows. He remembers people’s names. His team is passionate. Hopefully Gerry will back that up with fundraising strength or a loan to his campaign so that we don’t have to deal with the other candidates showing strength in that department. From the start, I thought Seth Harp would have done better, but he’s running the worse campaign of anyone on the trail in any race. Ralph Hudgins is at least showing up and working hard. The rest are just not a factor and like Icarus says they finish 4th through 117th.
Same thing can be said about the SoS race. Doug is just outworking Brian plain and simple. No one knew who Doug was outside of Fulton County a few months ago and now he’s racking up victories at various corners of the state. By contrast, most State Senators are supporing Brian and trying to get their folks behind him too, but it’s not working. Brian is a nice guy. Doug is a nice guy. The difference is how hard the staff is working and that is a direct reflection of how hard the candidate is working.
I’m skipping any commentary on Agriculture Commissioner. Gary Black is second to no one in terms of experience, ability, and character. The fact that he has an opponent is confounding.
What’s interesting though is that in the Attorney General race, Max Wood didn’t even show up, folks don’t even know who he is and yet he almost beat Sam Olens. Then again, Sam doesn’t show up at events, when he does barely talks to anyone, so if Max at least has a personality he will show strength out there and from what I’m hearing Max is going to be coming out of the gate soon with quite a bit of gusto!
And finally Education Superintendent. I think that Cox may have sympathy on her side. She is going through a horrible personal situation and probably the best thing is for her to step aside and deal with that. It is obvious she hasn’t campaigned or has other pressing things on her mind. She doesn’t remember anyone’s name or face and shows up late and leaves early from events, if she even shows up at all.
If this were an open race, we’d probably have top talent running here, but they aren’t going to step up out of respect for her. The other folks seem nice enough, but they are second tier at best.
The lack of improvement in GA schools has me thinking it’s time to shake up the recipe. Why not elect the school board by district and the Chairman statewide and appoint the Superintendent? Do that and I think Georgia might start making some real changes in education…
SR-As usual, you are half correct. Oxendine did have people coming in from other areas, but nothing like Handel.
At best, Handel might have received 10 or 12 votes from people from the area. The rest of her supporters stuck out like Paris Hilton at a tent revival. You don’t build a legitimate grassroots network by buying twenty something tickets to every straw poll. Y’all come back now, ya hear?
The refreshing spin of an unhinged Oxendine staffer…
In the Union County only votes – Handel tied Oxendine w/ 13 votes apiece.
What’s your spin on that MR?
So sorry, Silent Outrage. I estimated Handel had 10 or 12 votes. She actually had 13. Handel needs a press release or Facebook message to tell of this resounding support,
Thirteen people PLUS 20 something paid staffers and volunteers. Now that is grassroots support that even $430,000 can’t buy.
Listen MR – just because your candidate came in 4th place doesn’t mean that everyone who beat you had some underhanded plan of destruction.
The facts speak for themself – folks are jumping ship from the Oxendine effort and don’t want to be associated with the style, tactics, or negativity of the effort.
MR,
31% of Handel’s vote came from Union County. Deal had 28% of his vote come from Union County. Who’s got the better grassroots support?
Seems like Deal has a big problem in his own district. The voters in GA 9, understand that you shouldn’t use the influence of your office to make yourself richer. If I was Deal,
Scott and Johnson both had 3 votes come from Union County, looks like they were the masters at bussing people in.
So, exactly how many tickets did Doug Mcginitey buy tickets for his people he drags in from Fulton County. Every event I’ve been at, he brings about 15-30 people from Fulton County, having no support from the people in the actual county he’s campaigning in. Yeah that really shows some kind of statewide support. Please.
This has just gotten ridiculous.
When the guy is winning by almost 60% it’s hard to play that off on busing people in.
JS, I can’t speak for Columbus or Union but at the Dekalb event, I witnessed just the opposite. MacGinnitie had one of his staffers there and a handful (4 or so) volunteers, while Kemp bussed in two van loads of kids from UGA and still got pretty soundly defeated.
Silent Outrage/Dave Simons, please stop embarrassing yourself on this blog showing how dim witted you are.
Winning straw polls? Gop activists think he’s working sooo hard??? Momentum???
I think I just heard the same spin from lt gov ralph reed.
Money, true statewide or districtwide grassroots organization and a good message. That’s what matters. Not a bunch of losers on a blog pontificating for you.
aaarrrgghh!!!!!!
John Fuchko isn’t running. I think he announced, but has withdrawn.
I had registered as a candidate for Insurance Commissioner but decided to withdraw due to the demands of a new position at work. Unfortunately, I can’t actually change my status with the State Ethics Commission until the end of the year. That being said, I am encouraged by the quality of several of the candidates in this race and I look forward to seeing the Republican primary voters select the best person for this office. I approve this message. John Fuchko
Can anyone give me a logical reason why they would vote for Kathy Cox? Does performance of job matter at all?
Not as much as their position on evolution and abortion.
She’s smarter than a fifth grader… and they’re not.
Buckhead, I was there supporting another candidate and you know what you just wrote is an outright lie.
Ever since the cobb straw poll, doug has been busing in big groups to win straw polls. Its no big secret.
That’s apparently his strategy, fine. Total waste of money in my view.
But getting a bunch of hacks to lie on a blog about it is silly.
The scene I walked into was this:
When I arrived, I was approached by Carol Guiliani who is one of Doug’s grassroots warriors and very sweet voluteers. She politely ask for my support in the straw poll and directed me to to where Doug was and insisted I speak to him. I did, as I usually try to do with both candidates. When I walked into the hall, I passed one of Doug’s staffers whom I recognized, and saw 4-5 other blue shirts scatterd about the room in addition to Doug’s wife and one of his son’s. Then I noticed sitting at a table toward the center of the room was a group of 15-20 red Kemp shirts, all on young college aged guys. As I passed on I asked where he and his buddies were from b/c I hadnt seen them at meetings before and he told me UGA.
The meeting went on. I ate bbq and chatted up folks. After the speeches, everyone turned in their ballots and the results were announced. Shortly after that I walk out to leave, and walk past two Suburbans, each sporting Kemp bumber stickers, and surrounded by the same UGA guys putting away signs and drinking Cokes.
I’m not saying there is anything wrong with that. People do it every cycle. It certainly appears that Doug has a dedicated group of supporters, too. I see them around. But the only organized effort I’ve seen to bus folks into a straw poll was there from the Kemp camp.
I had to leave early from the Cobb event, but what I observed seemed to be a concerted effort from most candidates there. Doug’s contingency was pretty big, but I recognized several as Marietta/Kennesaw locals.
Given their geographic bases, it’s hard for me to believe either of them were able to convince many, if any folks to drive to Muscogee or Union.
Please excuse spelling/grammatical errors in my post above
I am sure everyone has been waiting for my comments on this.
However, I was waiting for the final results to be posted, which they now have been. Not much has changed, as far as the standings, but the percentage, and a clearer picture of the actual event can now be discerned.
http://www.uniongop.org/bbq09_results.htm
Graves was certainly the leader in the CD-09 race, congratulations. However, we are very pleased with our showing, considering the amount of money we have spent is pennies compared to the amount spent by the two candidates before us, and some behind us.
Knowing our campaign took only 4 people, we are very excited how many people there choose to vote for Jones based on the message, not based on the invitation or position within the campaign. We know we have a lot of work to do, I don’t want anyone to believe we are trying the old trick of spinning this as a victory, we are not. It is simply a step in the right direction. Thanks to those that are supporters, and thanks to those that will soon be! Also, thanks to those who continue to question everything I do, it makes me a better person, and I do appreciate it.
Maybe I should have listened to my wife and had more kids, we could have captured more of that elusive under 10 vote!
Jeremy Jones
http://www.JonesForUs.com/contribute.htm
Some of their official numbers seem to be considerably lower than the numbers that were reported here the other night.
My campaign has a request in for the hard numbers to the final posted results. I assume the big difference is the kid vote. For instance, there were many kids wearing Graves T Shirts. I would guess at least a dozen or so.
Comments on this entry are closed.