With Saxby out, these Georgians might run for Senate in 2014 (With updates)
My colleague Jim Galloway drops a mighty big political bomb for a Friday morning more than 21 months before the next election: Saxby Chambliss reportedly has told his senior staff members he will not run for re-election next year. (Update at 11:40: An announcement from Chambliss’ office just arrived, making it official. He’s not running.)
There’s been plenty of speculation about this possibility in the past, and just a couple of weeks ago he told me — in probably the strongest terms he’d used to that point — that he was seriously considering it. Now that it’s set to become official this morning, we can begin speculating in earnest about who might run for that seat.
In my mind, the list is not short. Here are some possible names, in alphabetical order and with some thoughts about their respective likelihood of running:
Paul Broun: The congressman from Georgia’s 10th District is first on the list alphabetically but probably would be first on the list if I were ranking the possibilities by likelihood of running, too. He has been not-so-coy about giving consideration to running for the seat. Update at 1:25 p.m.: A statement from Broun says he is still “prayerfully considering my own future.”
Casey Cagle/Brian Kemp/Sam Olens: Georgia’s lieutenant governor, secretary of state and attorney general, respectively, all appear to be lining up for a battle royale in Georgia’s 2018 gubernatorial primary (i.e., after Gov. Nathan Deal would have served two terms). Might one of them see an open Senate seat and give serious thought to making his move four years earlier? If so, it would almost certainly be just one of these three — and quite possibly none of them. Update at 12:35 p.m.: Olens did not rule out running when asked.
Herman Cain: The erstwhile presidential candidate ran for U.S. Senate in 2004, losing in the GOP primary to now-Sen. Johnny Isakson, and the local rumor mill has been churning about his possible interest in challenging Chambliss. That said, he is already publicly denying he has any interest. Of course, he did just start a job this very week as Neal Boortz’s replacement at WSB radio, so he’d pretty much have to say that, right? Keep an eye on him just in case.
Phil Gingrey (new addition to the list at 5:12 p.m.): The congressman from Georgia’s 11th District. I had heard mostly that Gingrey wasn’t really interested in running statewide, but a spokeswoman emails to say he “is receiving lots of encouragement and leaving all options on the table.” So, he’s on the list.
Newt Gingrich: I wouldn’t have put him on the list, but his spokesman did not at all deny the former U.S. speaker and presidential candidate might have interest when my colleague Daniel Malloy asked about it. So, here he is. (Update at 12:35 p.m.: A spokesman says Gingrich is not running.)
Tom Graves: The congressman from Georgia’s 14th District is a tea-party favorite and widely believed to have higher ambitions. He might be less inclined to run if Broun gets in.
Karen Handel: She’s a former Georgia secretary of state, past gubernatorial candidate and, famously, a central figure in the dispute over Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s short-lived decision to end subsidies to Planned Parenthood. At this point, I think she’s less likely to run for this seat than a lot of the early buzz would have it. I think it’s more likely she would run in the 6th Congressional District if Tom Price were to run (see below). But if Price doesn’t run for Senate, I suppose that could change.
Jack Kingston: The congressman from Georgia’s 1st District indicated in a statement today that he’s considering a run. That’s somewhat surprising, given how much trouble his fellow Savannah resident Eric Johnson had in simply gaining name ID for a gubernatorial run in 2010. But Kingston is on TV a fair amount and has a plum spot on the House Appropriations Committee, so maybe he likes his chances.
Barry Loudermilk: The state senator from Cartersville is believed to have interest, but most likely if Broun does not run. At this point, and with so many other big names likely considering the race, it’s possible we won’t see any state legislators running for the U.S. Senate — but participation by those big names could draw a lot of state legislators to run for the U.S. House.
Sonny Perdue: Put Georgia’s immediate past governor in the Gingrich-ian “not ready for the retirement home” category.
Tom Price: One of Georgia’s most visible congressmen, and the former head of the House’s Republican Study Committee, Price has been a much-discussed potential candidate. He might decide to keep trying to rise through the ranks in the House — particularly if Speaker John Boehner shows vulnerability — or he might try to switch chambers. One caveat: Whereas Deal might remain neutral about the other candidates in the race, the word is that a Price candidacy would spur him to choose sides — against Price, who infamously switched his allegiance to Handel in the 2010 GOP gubernatorial primary. Update at 1:25 p.m.: A Price spokesperson says he is “speaking with a number of folks across the state of Georgia and listening to their observations and advice.”
Austin Scott: The congressman from Georgia’s 8th District is the only South Georgian on the list, and he’s a very strong possibility to run now that Chambliss is out of the race.
U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland would be an instantly serious candidate if he were to get into the race, but he’s given no indication in the past he’s interested. Update at 1:25 p.m.: In a statement, Westmoreland says he is considering running. So I’m giving him his own spot on this list.
Wild cards: And there may well be a non-politico who surprises everyone by choosing this as his/her moment to get into politics (no, I don’t have anyone in mind).
How about on the Democratic side? There already was a feeling among Georgia political observers that Georgia’s severely weakened Democrats would choose to concentrate their resources on one statewide race, and that this would be it. Now that it’s an open seat, I think that’s even more likely.
For now, the Democrats’ list begins and ends with Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. He was one of President Obama’s most prominent surrogates during last year’s election, and there’s a lot of talk here that the White House really wants Reed to run for this seat. That talk is bound to soar now that it’s an open seat. Reed is up for re-election this fall and isn’t expected to draw any opponents who are serious threats to him. If he wants to run, other Democrats almost certainly would stay out of the race, and he wouldn’t have to leave his current job to do so. A win would be a huge step up for him, earlier than most expected (Georgia’s demographic trends regarding white and minority voters mirror but lag behind those nationally). If he lost, he’d still be Atlanta’s mayor, working famously well with Deal and GOP state legislators, and would have even more name ID statewide for a 2018 run.
Update at 12:35 p.m.: In a statement, Reed said today is not about politics but honoring Chambliss for his service.
In the event he doesn’t run, the Democrats’ chances of winning this seat drop sharply. Possible candidates might be state House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, U.S. Rep. John Barrow, state Sen. Jason Carter (President Carter’s grandson) and former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. Only Barrow hails from anywhere outside Atlanta.
Update at 12:35 p.m.: Former DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones says to “stay tuned” about his plans in 2014.
Oh, and here’s a name completely out of left field, just for fun: How about former state Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears? I have no idea if she’d ever entertain the thought, but she might turn out to be a very strong candidate.
What say y’all?
– By Kyle Wingfield
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156 comments Add your comment
HDB
January 25th, 2013
2:46 pm
BTW, Dusty….the media only grants you a certain POV pertaining to any candidate…..a rally held in my community would give me an opportunity to learn MORE about the candidate…not just sound bites…not just stump speeches!! Compare Mitt Romney’s demeanor at the NAACP Convention to Joe Biden’s…that spoke volumes……but there was still more that was needed to be known……..
I desire to be a part of a MORE informed electorate…….
HDB
January 25th, 2013
2:52 pm
The British economy is SHRINKING….because they’re showing that austerity measures AREN’T WORKING!! The Conservative Government’s ideas aren’t working……
Britain slides back towards recession
We have a reminder today that Britain faces a very difficult economic situation,” he said. “A reminder that last year was particularly difficult, that we face problems at home because of the debts built up over many years and problems abroad with the eurozone, where we export most of our products, in recession.”
The economy, which has essentially stagnated for 2½ years, pulled out of a shallow double-dip recession in the third quarter of 2012, but contracted again between the third and the fourth quarter by more than the expected 0.1 per cent. The economy was the same size in the fourth quarter as it was a year earlier.”
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/d0795284-66d0-11e2-a805-00144feab49a.html#axzz2J0xd9yYe
We see that austerity measures don’t work! What has to be done is the government INCREASES spending in bad economic times to boost the economy……and DECREASES spending in good economic times to balance the budget!! The reason that the US economy hasn’t fully recovered is that government spending is DECREASING! Obama is spending at a slower rate than Bush did. He’s attempting to MANAGE the decline in government spending in such a manner that it doesn’t send the economy into recession!!
HDB
January 25th, 2013
2:52 pm
Kyle…mea culpa!!
getalife
January 25th, 2013
2:54 pm
“Try to fit in.”
No.
“But given that’s not very hard to do . . . ”
I post facts and live in the real world.
You can counter but call names instead.
Like Dusty said, “try to fit in .”
Lets talk about jindal’s speech today.
It was pretty good.
S
January 25th, 2013
2:57 pm
Gingrey, Price, Broun all Neanderthal nincompoops, no Woman in their right minds will vote for a one of these Jokers. ICK!
getalife
January 25th, 2013
3:00 pm
The “stupid party”.
“Insulting the voters. intelligence.”
“Stop looking back”
Jindal was on fire.
Wow.
Dusty
January 25th, 2013
3:02 pm
MarkV
Besides being bored to tears, I don’t know at this moment what you call someone who does not like to be identified when they go to vote.(None that I care to mention.)
I don’t mind showing my driver’s license or some other Id. My photo is gorgeous. (Lying is acceptable in this reference.)
Perhaps you can enhance us with your great knowledge of confutation. and Democratic conglutination about names for those who disagree with failed policies of the president. Please include also the names for those who fall flat on their faces to agree with any & everything the president does. OK? .
HDB
January 25th, 2013
3:03 pm
…also Dusty, the evidence is MOUNTING about Republican tactics as it pertains to the minority vote….
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/01/gops-two-completely-opposite-comeback-plans/61409/
Redbone
January 25th, 2013
3:07 pm
Well, it looks like Saxby got the message. Many grassroots Republicans worked very hard for Saxby in the 2002 election and I really though he was the real deal. As Uncle Si would say “na, no way Jack”. He and Isakson was on the wrong side of immigration in in 2006. They wanted to drill where there ain’t no oil (50+ miles off shore when 92% of the off shore oil is within 50 miles) in 2008. They indebted us, our children and grandchildren to the tune of $7 Trillion over a 10 year period in 2011. The told us they were cutting $2 Trillion when they were actually raising the national debt from $14.2 T to $21.2 T over a 10 year period. Time and again he and Isakson and others in our congressional delegation failed our country and disappointed conservatives. Lets get someone who is conservative and has a back bone. The problems we face today in this nation are because of the wimpy, spineless RINOs that we worked for and elected and then they sold us out. Our problems can be fixed with MEN and WOMEN with conservative principle who will say what they mean and mean what they say. An R by their name means nothing anymore. Let’s find a REAL conservative.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
January 25th, 2013
3:08 pm
How about the guy who just got sent to work at Georgia Public Broadcasting?
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
January 25th, 2013
3:10 pm
Postponing deficit cuts hasn’t put Italy and France in a better position. Higher borrowing costs have pushed them into a period of market-imposed austerity, with all the economic pain that entails. Forecasters tracked by Bloomberg currently expect no growth in France this year, and a contraction of more than 1 percent in Italy. The forecast for Britain is a 0.5 percent gain. – Bloomberg
MarkV
January 25th, 2013
3:12 pm
Dusty @ 3:02 pm
Dusty,
Not surprisingly, you either do not understand, or pretend not to understand, the point of my comment. It is the matter of principle. If you respond to a question of presumed injustice (and I have no intention to discuss the specific subject at this time) by a question whether that is something that affects that person individually, then why not use the same attitude for everything? Why care about any injustice, or a decision of others, as long as it does you affect you, personally? Is that the way you understand a civilized behavior?
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
January 25th, 2013
3:13 pm
Can you please rule out anyone who has apologized to Rush Limbaugh in the past?
D.C.
January 25th, 2013
3:14 pm
P. Broun – Please, anybody but this clown.
K. Handel – A high school diploma isn’t enough… It isn’t enough.
Dusty
January 25th, 2013
3:17 pm
HDB
There are millions of “communities” in the USA. You want a private political showing for each one?
And you think Joe Biden is the seer of Democrats because he spoke better ( in your opinion) than Romney at a NAACP meeting? Suppose I make my opinion based on a speech made at a Tea Party Convention,? I didn’t but is that just as acceptable?
I doubt that you even listened to a GOP speaker. Your mind sounds as closed as a bank vault. Everythng locked away tight and hard to open. That’s your privilege and you are free to use it. Sad!
rj
January 25th, 2013
3:20 pm
I would hope that all mentioned would run SO LONG AS THEY STEPPED DOWN FROM THEIR POSITIONS IN ORDER TO RUN. I would love to be rid of Loudermilk, Graves, Price …………. who believe that they all have a lock of the Constitution as a Scholar. Heck, if Graves won maybe he could pay back his bank loan he defaulted on. Chip Rogers could be his Chief of Staff and head up the study committee as to on line gambling. Could it be in the “Tea” leaves? I certainly hope not.
I would certainly have supported Chambliss over all these suggested names. Can you imagine a Graves or a Loudermilk or Price ………………. in any position of importance? Scary thought. As a lifetime Republican the party has to shift to the center, the tent is too wide and the margins are to extreme and out of control. We have only ourselves to blame for the condition of the Republican Party.
Politico
January 25th, 2013
3:27 pm
“Your mind sounds as closed as a bank vault. Everythng locked away tight and hard to open.”
WOW…………… The pot calling out the kettle
Hillbilly D
January 25th, 2013
3:27 pm
A high school diploma isn’t enough…
That’s all Harry Truman had.
Dusty
January 25th, 2013
3:30 pm
MarkV
Sigh.. I was replying to one person regarding his feeling on voter ID. I was not trying to upset civilization by some mystical message in the ethos.
Please be specific if you want me to gaze into my all seeing glass globe and tell you the truths of eternity for one and all.. But I may be busy painting my fingernails. First things first you know. . …
Dusty
January 25th, 2013
3:37 pm
Oh hush, Politico. You are one also locked away tightly in the Dem darkness. .
HDB
January 25th, 2013
3:37 pm
Dusty
January 25th, 2013
3:17 pm
Problem is…I’ve HEARD a LOT of Republican speakers…..from Mitt Romney….to Todd Akin…to Richard Mourdock…to Newt Gingrich…to Mitch McConnell…..to Chris Christie…to Bobby Jindal…..and can go back as far as hearing Barry Goldwater………Strom Thurmond…Jesse Helms….
..and have traveled not just coast-to-coast…but internationally to hear things via differing media sources……
Needless to say, what I’ve heard is antithetical to what I would advocate………..but I’m willing to listen; I challenge you to do likewise to a Democrat…………..
JamVet
January 25th, 2013
3:39 pm
Am I the only one corny enough here to still get goosebumps at the opening notes of this song??
Yes.
(Grin)
But you more than made up for it with that great12:42.
Can you please rule out anyone who has apologized to Rush Limbaugh in the past?
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!
Talk about cowering cons and their groupthink, huh?
But after this past election, I have grown to LOVE the man. All ye who enter here bow before the man who has the amazing courage to stand up to all of those sluts, prostitutes and FemiNazis who want free birth control!
I swear the clown is a liberal plant.
Another great 3DN tune penned by a different spectacular songwriter…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A2eet1bttY
HDB
January 25th, 2013
3:40 pm
BTW, Dusty…the ONE person Republicans SHOULD have been listening to…..you’ve shunned: Colin Powell!! Why did the GOP BOO him at the GOP Convention?? That spoke volumes also………….
MarkV
January 25th, 2013
3:40 pm
Dusty @ 3:30 pm
I understand. You are not responsible for the way you express yourself in your comments, because the only purpose of them is to attack the position of someone else, and who cares about the means.
Politico
January 25th, 2013
3:41 pm
Dusty
You might be big mama, but you are not mine.
Your posts prove you to be as partisan and “in the dark” as any blogger on this forum and we wont even speak about your lack of intelligence regarding political matters
Dusty
January 25th, 2013
3:44 pm
Hillbilly,
Truman had a very good mind and convictions . .
Even a Harvard degree cannot rescue some people.
D.C.
January 25th, 2013
3:45 pm
[Quote]That’s all Harry Truman had.[/quote]
That was 70 years ago and he was a combat vet.
HDB
January 25th, 2013
3:49 pm
Dusty
January 25th, 2013
3:17 pm
HDB
“And you think Joe Biden is the seer of Democrats because he spoke better ( in your opinion) than Romney at a NAACP meeting?”
It wasn’t what Biden SAID…it’s how he ACTED!! Romney acted as though he didn’t want to be there…he was stiff and unknowledgable about his audience! Romney left IMMEDIATELY after his speech! Biden, on the other hand, was comfortable with the audience, engaged the audience, stayed behind and shook hands with many in the audience!! Body language speaks more than words can say……..
Mr. Thomas Anthony Jones, SR
January 25th, 2013
3:50 pm
Reed for Senator in 2014 and Vice president for Mrs. Clinton for 2016.
yuzeyurbrane
January 25th, 2013
3:53 pm
Democrats will hold off as long as possible to see how much Republicans bloody each other.
Dusty
January 25th, 2013
3:54 pm
Politico
Thank goodness I am not your mama.. Indeed!!
I have never claimed to be a political genius (although being a Republican is close.).
I see you noticed my limitations. . Takes one to know one, mon ami.
Hillbilly D
January 25th, 2013
4:05 pm
To my way of looking at things, the world is no more complicated now than it was in Truman’s time. People always like to think the times they live in are different but they’re really not. The world’s always got problems and it’s always a complicated place.
jerry
January 25th, 2013
4:08 pm
Herman Cain? Really?
Realist
January 25th, 2013
4:14 pm
To Limbaugh, Hannity McConnell and others, including posters to AJC’s blogs and The Vent: Instead of trying to yet point out what you feel are faults of the person who won (twice), your time would be better spent working diligently to figure out why you (again) lost.
Fortunately some of your own folks are trying to open your eyes, but it’s doubtful that you’ll see.
norman
January 25th, 2013
4:17 pm
We should not let metro Atlanta control all our political representatives. Go for Jack Kingston.
Politico
January 25th, 2013
4:18 pm
Hillibilly
Good point. We have 24/7 news(entertainment and opinion) and the internet which provides the avg Joe with more information and talking points, but the world had and has numerous problems and conflicts.
JDW
January 25th, 2013
4:23 pm
“We should not let metro Atlanta control all our political representatives.”
It’s just math…Georgia population about 9.9 million…Metro Atlanta population 5.5 million.
JDW
January 25th, 2013
4:30 pm
@Tiberius…”Someone who posts considerably more substance than you do”
Yes it is the substance that has us concerned…it is generally brown, squishy and malodorous.
JDW
January 25th, 2013
4:37 pm
“How has John Kerry, who has been in the Senate since 1985, amassed 193,000,000 dollars? ”
Gee, I wonder, o yeah it was his wife and his inheritance…did you happen to miss 2004?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kerry
Red
January 25th, 2013
4:59 pm
Michelle Nunn would be a great choice for Senator!
Rafe Hollister preparing for an Obamanist America
January 25th, 2013
5:11 pm
HDB
Good to hear from you again. You posted this……
what I’ve heard is antithetical to what I would advocate……… That is what Mitch McConnell meant to say when he said he hoped Obama was a one term President. What did you want him to do, vote for something that was antithetical to what he believed. That is why the GOP is so opposed to Obama, everything he believes or does is antithetical to what is good for America.
As for why Romney did not come into your neighborhood, well, I live in NW Georgia and he didn’t come here either, neither did Obama. Obama did not even campaign in Georgia, so using your logic, no one in Georgia should have voted for him. He didn’t even come here and ask for my vote or give me a chance to ask him a question.
As to why, the GOP does not come inside the perimeter, I think it is the whole thing of trying to reach the most voters through general campaign stops, ads, and rallies. The GOP does not divide people into groups and play group politics, offering each group something different, so they don’t need a rally with scores of different groups, like the Dems. One or two general rallies reach all those who want to be reached. Their MO is to campaign for smaller government, less taxes, more individual responsibility, and more freedom. If those are things you are interested in, you will find a way to vote for them, otherwise not.
Flip Flop
January 25th, 2013
5:25 pm
Normally with an open seat, I would have been inclined to line up with and support an acceptable democrat. Not now, no way. The democrats showed their true colors and knocked me back to my senses. By using, a tragedy to attempt to undermined the Bill of Rights, specifically the Second Amendment. In fact, I hope the republicans pick up six seats and take control of the Senate.
Vinny D
January 25th, 2013
5:28 pm
Glad to see Saxby exit. He represents everything that is wrong with the GOP. Insider RINO at it’s finest. Austin Scott?! Oh dear…That would be dreadful. Paul Broun is intriguing due to his new “become the next Ron Paul” rally cry but parts of his history are not pretty. The whole evolution is “a lie from the pits of hell?” Wish he had kept that opinion to himself. With that being said, I think I could back anyone who’s major points right now are auditing the fed and pushing for the fairtax. He may be a loon but I can jump on those bandwagons quickly.
Drewbob
January 25th, 2013
5:55 pm
Does Gingrey have enough hair dye to get him through such a race?
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
January 25th, 2013
5:58 pm
HDB: The British economy is SHRINKING…austerity measures AREN’T WORKING!!
——————–
How long do you reckon a government should have to turn around an economy before you admit that they’ve failed?
Timus
January 25th, 2013
6:08 pm
A fiscally conservative Democrat like Shirley Franklin would be an interesting candidate. Then “conservatives” would have to choose between being racist and being conservative……..
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
January 25th, 2013
7:12 pm
You’re an idiot.
Bigguy
January 25th, 2013
7:40 pm
Glad to be rid of the quitter.
Ray
January 25th, 2013
7:53 pm
You asked for my thoughts:
Chip Rogers is not about to give up the pot at the end of his rainbow, if he brings big game gambling to Georgia. He can’t do that as a U.S. Senator. Deal pretends he is against gambling, all the while “his people” are obviously laying the ground work, even going so far as to have taxpayers fund Chip Roger’s new “dream job” with GPB. Who is the Governor fooling?
Given all that has been in the press about Deal’s failed business venture valuations, the IRS will surely have to come into in to reconcile the differences reported to the government. The likely timing on the probably audit means, anyone appointed by Deal for an interim spot will effectively given the kiss of death politically. Hence, you have the Governor publicly making a thinly veiled joke, today, that Chambliss must serve his full time. Ha, ha, the last thing Deal wants is the spotlight around him.
For the sake of the country, I hope Senator Chambliss doesn’t pull a Palin-Rogers move. He can do a lot of great things in the next 2 years. He is of sound mind.
Your number one selection, Dr. Broun has embarrassed himself nationally, several times over. And, he apparently doesn’t even have a clue how infamous he is. With the late night comedians, he is the gift that keeps on giving.
Republicans will support Vernon Jones. He is the spoiler to Reed’s chances to win. Jones will dirty anyone up. He did a great job on himself. It is openly known President Obama will not have his picture taken with Vernon Jones (and everybody has known why).
If you hate the government, think it can do no right, and our country’s destruction is inevitable, please don’t run for office. We need an optimist, someone really to roll his or her sleeves to govern. Someone not burnt out.
Thank you Senator Chambliss for your excellent public service. During your watch, you served us proudly.
fair and balanced
January 25th, 2013
8:04 pm
Please cons pick Tom Price or Herman Cain- we need the entertainment now that Romney/ Ryan bit the dust and flamed out. Try to find someone who will continue to make Georgia the laughing stock of the country. Saxby was not keeping up that requirement for elected office in Georgia.