Breaking: Clinton endorses Baker for governor
Former President Bill Clinton endorsed Attorney General Thurbert Baker in the race for Georgia governor on Monday.
Clinton’s endorsement is not all that surprising. Baker backed Clinton’s wife, Hillary, for president in 2008. And Baker’s chief rival in the Democratic primary, former Gov. Roy Barnes, backed John Edwards in the presidential race.
Clinton held a fundraiser for Baker in New York last year.
In his endorsement letter, which the Baker camp emailed out, Clinton praised the candidate for his role in pushing the bill that created the HOPE scholarship. He also said Baker has outlined a more detailed plan for Georgia’s future – including a Lottery-run bingo game to help fund education – than the other candidates.
“Thurbert is a rare and special man with a life story that could only happen in America,” Clinton wrote.
“Born with next to nothing, Thurbert Baker never forgot where he came from and spent his whole life quietly but firmly opening the doors of opportunity for millions of Georgians, opportunities he never had.
“If you give him the chance and elect Thurbert Baker your governor, he will open those doors for millions more. You can count on that because he’s already done it.”
Baker first met the future president when Clinton was attorney general of Arkansas in the 1970s. Baker served as a state House floor leader for Georgia Gov. Zell Miller, who was a huge Clinton backer and a keynote speaker at the 1992 Democratic National Convention at which Clinton was nominated for president.
“The thing I am very pleased about in this very very strong endorsement from the president is he acknowledges the work we are doing trying to put Georgians back to work,” Baker said. “He also talked about an issue he worked on that’s very important to me as well, and that’s education.”
Baker said the endorsement is important to his efforts to upset Barnes.
“It’s not every day you get a glowing endorsement from a former president of the United States.”
Meanwhile, House Minority Leader DuBose Porter (D-Dublin), who is also hoping to force Barnes into a gubernatorial runoff, touted endorsements Monday from several Metro Atlanta state House members. Among those endorsing Porter were state Reps. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur), Brian Thomas (D-Lilburn), Stacey Abrams (D-Atlanta) and Lee Thompson (D-Lawrenceville).
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40 comments Add your comment
Raquel Morris
July 12th, 2010
11:11 am
Won’t make a bit of difference.
Charlene
July 12th, 2010
11:19 am
Is he endorsing Sam Olens in the Attorney General’s race too? Since Sam worked on Clinton’s presidential campaign in 1992, it seems only fair.
Andrew Young
July 12th, 2010
11:28 am
Bill Clinton has slept with more black women than Thurbert Baker.
atlshirt.com
July 12th, 2010
11:30 am
Go ahead, Clinton just split the vote, No way Baker can beat any Republican LMAO !!!
MiltonMan
July 12th, 2010
11:31 am
It depends on what “is” is an endorsement.
Wrong AJC
July 12th, 2010
11:36 am
God I can’t handle Roy (again) or any of the repubs! SOS!
Bob
July 12th, 2010
11:39 am
We don’t need another democrat in ANY office, look what Obama and his Demo’s have done to our country.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
July 12th, 2010
11:41 am
All the more reason to make DuBose and Carol Porter, true and righteous Georgians, our elected leaders.
Baker wants more money for the mobsters who run the lottery from Rhode Island. The topography of Clinton’s highly involved nose – identical to Winthrop Rockefeller’s and nothing like James Blythe’s – tells us all we need know of just how Hillary was so quickly named the U.S. Senator from Pocantico Hills.
The Porters, DuBose and Carol, are the right path for Georgia.
ricardus
July 12th, 2010
11:41 am
Oh Poop! Now I can’t vote for Thurbert.
ricardus
July 12th, 2010
11:42 am
Enter your comments here
The political insider - wooa--
July 12th, 2010
11:42 am
Thurbert Baker has no chance to be governor of Georgia. Without Obama to get out the black vote, the dark side will sit this cycle out. Likely, King Roy will get the job back now that he has learned to kiss teacher butt. Thee kids loose here.
Jim in Ga
July 12th, 2010
11:49 am
I don’t get why people care about endorsements. You should find the candidate that best fits the criteria that you want and vote for them. Who gives a rats behind that someone endorses someone else.
Endorsement Hoar
July 12th, 2010
11:52 am
My ex-wife’s cousin’s neighbor’s hairdresser is also backing Baker, so I guess I have to vote for him now.
patman
July 12th, 2010
11:59 am
Political Insider — Both a racist and illiterate. You’re the reason Georgia stays near the bottom of every index of education, health, and enlightenment. Keep up the good work.
Shondra
July 12th, 2010
11:59 am
Slick Willie endorses Bingo Baker but King Roy leads in the polls.
God help the Democratic Party.
Pull My Finger
July 12th, 2010
12:13 pm
Wonder how many votes Clinton’s endorsement just lost Baker…..I guess it depends on what your definition of “is” is…………………
Cody
July 12th, 2010
12:27 pm
The big story should be Barnes endorsment of Edwards; he couldn’t or didn’t recognize character flaws!
joe joe
July 12th, 2010
12:32 pm
I’m an illiterate voter & don’t know anything about politics.
Since I am & just heard that Bill Clinton endorsed Baker so now I will vote for Baker.
Pope UGA XXIII
July 12th, 2010
12:50 pm
This is a great story:
Roy Barnes endorsed an adulterer.
An adulterer endorsed Thurbert Baker
Let me at dem dere voting mochines. What a great day
for our state !!
ROY!!!!!!
July 12th, 2010
12:52 pm
Roy was a good governor, he didn’t like the rebel flag, and a much better governor that the scum sucking “Sonny”, the 1950’s econpmic segregationist, corrupt, corporate whore.
ROWHOO
July 12th, 2010
12:53 pm
Does Baker support the old GA flag??
midtownguy
July 12th, 2010
12:59 pm
Having your opponent endorsed by Clinton only advantages Barnes in the general election, because the nomination is already sewn up.
And as much as I dislike King Roy, if The OX gets the Republican nomination I will have to hold my nose and vote for Barnes. At least he is a known entity.
jon zealy
July 12th, 2010
12:59 pm
Of course he did,..Backer was the only brother in the race. Got to be PC ya know.
The Winner
July 12th, 2010
1:01 pm
The winner IS NOT the “RETREAD” Barnes. Get real.
Brian
July 12th, 2010
1:28 pm
Frankly I don’t know how anyone would want to vote for a man who defended enshrining in the Georgia Constitution discrimination against a whole group of tax paying Georgia citizens. He certainly won’t be getting my vote. Much as I don’t want to elect a “retread” I will take Roy Barnes over Baker anyday.
A CONSERVATIVE
July 12th, 2010
1:39 pm
A KISS OD DEATH…….a Bill Clinton endorsement….priceless…
poltiticks hurt
July 12th, 2010
1:46 pm
Baker would have fared better running as a independent. He can’t win in Georgia as a Democrat.
Adoptsalot
July 12th, 2010
1:51 pm
PBS put all of the candidates on the hot…err..warm seat last night.
I like Bakers’ BINGO idea, the only complelty new solution in the group running. I like that he was tough on illegal immigration (All the candidates were).
Still not sure who I will vote for, but it will not be anyone who has been there before-no incumbents or career polititians for me. I am imposing my own term limits on all of them.
Abe
July 12th, 2010
1:59 pm
Believe what you will, but it is long overdue for ALL OF GEORGIA…Democrats, Republicans & Independents alike to vote for someone who will not lie to their faces just to get your vote, then turn around a few months later and do just the opposite. A very wise former civil rights leader & political legend, Mrs. M. Athalie Range of Miami, Florida, once said, “IT’S NOT ABOUT BEING A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN. IT’S NOT ABOUT BEING BLACK, WHITE OR OTHER. IT’S NOT ABOUT BEING RICH OR POOR. IT’S ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT THINGS…AT ALL TIMES…FOR ALL PEOPLE!” Roy Barnes has done that! During his previous term in office as Governor, he knew it was impossible at the time to allocate necessary funds to teachers to give them what they deserve in terms of financial compensation, and he told them that. Yet, he said it was something that could actually be done going into the second term (had he been elected again). Unfortunately, he was not, and instead, Mr. Purdue was elected in place. Perdue won the election chiefly because he made “promises” that Roy Barnes knew (and admitted) could not be accomplished at that time. Primarily, by professing to Georgia educators that they would get all of the money they deserve and some. Yet, once he stepped into office, Purdue gave Georgia voters (especially the Teacher’s union & other union supporters) his backside to kiss because they got nothing!!!
Wake up Georgia! Along with South Carolina, Alabama & Mississippi, you’re one of the nations’s most behind-the-times, hillbilly-thinking, out-of-touch states in the entire nation! From your outdated Jimmy Crockett laws that are practiced daily from your courts to your state capitol buildings, it is about time Georgia step into 2010 instead of remaining asleep as if it is STILL 1958. Roy Barnes has ALREADY proved himself as a REAL fighter and leader for the state of Georgia! Not just white Georgia, not just black Georgia, but ALL of Georgia! The question is will people turn out in large numbers in the coming weeks to vote for him??? If not, when you continue to lose your jobs, your houses and your way of life, don’t say you didn’t have a chance to make a difference.
Reginald
July 12th, 2010
2:07 pm
I love you Mr. President, you did an amazing job for the country from 1993-2001, but, Roy Barnes did a great job for Georgia from 1997-2003!!!Educator for Roy Barnes!!!!!!!!!
Rude
July 12th, 2010
2:08 pm
Obama lost Georgia……..DITTO for Mr. Baker!!!!
Jose
July 12th, 2010
2:22 pm
Abe, yeah we want to be like New York, California, Illinois, the list goes on. Stick your hillbilly crap and wake up. We don’t want Obama like policies and politics in this state. They do not work anywhere else in this country and they will not work here or in Alabama or in South Carolina.
Tammy
July 12th, 2010
2:27 pm
It a shame, reading your post reminds me of a time in American History that most of us are not too proud of. It’s time for a change. We need a new face in the Governor’s office. A bit of intellect won’t hurt either.
EMMA
July 12th, 2010
2:46 pm
Ok, yes I voted for Obama, but Baker? Nope can’t do it!!!!!!
Kevra
July 12th, 2010
3:43 pm
Baker endorsed by an adulterer
Barnes endorsed an adulterer AND
Liz Carter IS an adulterer…What’s going on with our political figures??
Atlantan
July 12th, 2010
3:56 pm
As the nations “first black president” – this endorsement makes sense to me.
Willie J doesn’t trust King Roy either.
mark
July 12th, 2010
4:22 pm
Its easy to forget about the Clinton Presidency when he was followed into office by such a great man.
Polling and Political Wrap, 7/12/10 | Rubber Donkey.org
July 12th, 2010
11:19 pm
[...] Baker could be, however, as he unloaded a huge endorsement today in the form of former President Bill Clinton. Republican co-front runner Karen Handel can claim an endorsement of her own today, from none other [...]
The Dogfighter Returns
July 13th, 2010
1:20 pm
It’s the dog and pony show again. Whether you vote repub or dem you are simply going to get screwed. That’s how the game is played, one day you folks will figure it out.
gangsters in suits.
Georgia On the Mind | Progressive Fix
July 16th, 2010
3:54 pm
[...] votes in Democratic primaries in Georgia). Baker got a significant boost earlier this week with an endorsement from President Bill Clinton (Baker was a big Human Rights Campaign supporter in 2008), and has been promoting legalization of [...]