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Political Insider

A huge Barnes lead in an IA poll

4:00 pm May 22, 2009, by jgalloway

InsiderAdvantage just posted, behind its screen, a poll in the Democratic race for governor done in partnership with WSB-TV, showing former incumbent Roy Barnes with a 38 percent lead, and all the announced candidates — Thurbert Baker, DuBose Porter, and David Poythress — scratching at 3 percent or less.

Undecides were more than 50 percent, so this is far from the last word. Details: 404 voters surveyed on Thursday night, 5%±MOE.

A previous IA poll, conducted in April, showed roughly the same numbers — except that Baker was at 11 percent. No explanation was offerred, but this comment from IA’s Matt Towery was later added:

“It is clear if Roy Barnes runs he is the prohibitive favorite. That said, in the crosstabs he is taking virtually all of the decided African-American vote because most African-Americans who said they would be voting don’t know who Thurbert Baker is. Once they come to know , it’s presumable he might take a portion of that away.

“On the other side, Barnes is getting the vast majority of the decided white vote. And it’s entirely possible that with 50 percent of whites undecided, once they realize who Barnes is and he is reintroduced, he’d pick up more of a share of the white vote.”

Not by coincidence, the three announced Democratic candidates were screened Friday by a panel of a dozen or so African-American state lawmakers — members of the Legislative Black Caucus — at the Atlanta Life building near Auburn Avenue.

Sessions were 45 minutes long, and the questions were largely uniform. The session with Baker, we understand, was pretty tough. Baker, who is also African-American, has riled some black state lawmakers with a few of his positions — particularly on the Genarlow Wilson case.

Porter did well, we heard. Barnes was invited, but did not show — which raised an eyebrow or two.

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25 comments Add your comment

Will Jones - Atlanta

May 22nd, 2009
4:58 pm

Barnes is a Vietnam “Law School” draft-dodger who has done nothing to bring to justice the treasonous faction which killed John Kennedy and Martin Luther King to get 58,000 of us to die for the pope, and many later crimes.

Cleland is a decorated combat Vet who quit the 9/11 Commission when its fraudulence became apparent.

One’s a man and a patriot, the other a physical coward who allowed himself to be bought by Big Banking while pretending to serve as a watchman for the People in the Georgia Assembly.

Not a tough choice for a man, a father of a son, or a woman who knows what a man is.

Will Jones - Atlanta

May 22nd, 2009
6:20 pm

None of the real Will Jones’ of Atlanta post here. This is just the place where a homophobic bigot rants unfettered. And, by the way, it isn’t a tough choice for sheep that know what men are, either.

Daisy Duke

May 22nd, 2009
6:45 pm

What was the point of this poll? Why would you include someone in a poll (Barnes) that may or may not even run? Yes, as former Governor who couldn’t even buy his re-election with $10 million dollars, he has high name recognition. Name recognition at this time does not equate to victory. Therefore, the point must be to encourage Barnes to run, which would be a dream come true for Republicans. After all, Insider Advantage is a Republican polling firm.

RGB

May 22nd, 2009
10:31 pm

Another example of commissioning polls to create news.

Were there no rappers killed today? No Dolla. No T.I.? No Bobby Brown? Sheesh.

Soon you’ll begin writing about the fifth column….or the Pope. : )

ROTFLAW

DW

May 22nd, 2009
10:42 pm

Really, Daisy? Roy Barnes is the ONLY Democrat who could beat a Republican next year. For InsiderAdvantage to “want” Barnes to run doesn’t make a lot of sense. If I were a Republican (I’m an independent), I’d want to run against the current announced field. No Democrat who’s announced has anywhere near the recognition, political base, and organization that Roy Barnes has or would have.

Daisy Duke

May 22nd, 2009
11:41 pm

DW, I beg to differ. Roy Barnes is the Republican’s best chance of winning in 2010. By the time the Republicans refresh everyone’s memory of who Roy Barnes is, he’ll sink like the titanic. All the Republicans running are wing-nuts and will not appeal to mainstream Georgians. After eight years of Perdue and the Republicans, Georgians will repudiate them…….IF the Democrat is anybody BUT Barnes.

Red Rider

May 23rd, 2009
6:44 am

“Not by coincidence, the three announced Democratic candidates were screened Friday by a panel of a dozen or so African-American state lawmakers — members of the Legislative Black Caucus — at the Atlanta Life building near Auburn Avenue.”

Three announced Democratic candidates were screened. “The session with Baker, we understand, was pretty tough” and “Porter did well, we hear”. Let’s see now…Baker is one candidate. Porter makes two. 1+1=3? Who was that third candidate screened? Must be David Poythress, that’s who. David Poythress (who just happens to have announced first) was screened…..and of course, not mentioned. Is this because of sloppy reporting ..or was it by design? If not, then 1+1=3!

Will Jones - Atlanta

May 23rd, 2009
8:23 am

The People of Georgia know Bush committed 9/11…despite what witting agents of bi-partisan false aristocracy have to say on the subject.

In the greatness of American civil society, with the infinitude of grace abounding to each sovereign individual, we shall overcome this traitorous faction without bloodshed, if, in the non-monolithic “elite,” one party provides candidates which, on margin, move toward Righteousness in Truth with Justice.

Barack Obama did that an was made elect. Here in Georgia, should the Democratic Party put forward a candidate for governor who, on margin, can be seen to be a positive effort toward the goal of the Righteousness to which every Georgian American has as a birthright, he or she will be elected.

Max Cleland demonstrated the lie of the 9/11 Commission. Max Cleland is the only Democrat with the integrity to give any indication of a disatisfaction with the power elite’s cover-up of Bush’s and Cheney’s treason.

Max Cleland is the first Georgian to receive a full-time appointment to serve in this new adminstration’s efforts to restore Truth and Justice for all Americans.

Bush and Cheney must hang for 9/11 to resecure the Divine Covenant upon which Our Nationhood rests.

Max Cleland, or another as yet unnamed Democrat willing to make some sign that the Truth of 9/11 be known, and that Justice be done, will resonate with the Spirit in the hearts of all true, patriotic Georgians when votes for governor are cast.

Cleland for Governor!

Garry

May 23rd, 2009
8:44 am

I’ve been a Democrat for over 50 years. Every morning the last couple of months I read the news and find myself asking,”Why won’t Sarah Palin just go away?” or “Why won’t Dick Cheney just go away?”

I guess now I have to add “Why won’t Roy Barnes just go away?”

Roy – you’re the reason we’ve been destroyed in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008 in this state. You’re the reason in under a decade we went from super majority to super minority. You, Roy Barnes, are the only Democrat in over 100 years to lose the incumbent Governorship of Georgia… if you really love your party Roy, fade away… fade away…

TANSTAAFL

May 23rd, 2009
10:15 am

Let’s hope the former Governor Barnes huge lead in this recent I/A poll does not scare away the declared candidates and cause then to concede the race before it’s even started. Over here at the secret underground Libertarian Command Center (LCC) we were really looking forward to meddling in the democratic primary bloodbath. Does this mean we won’t get to hear Thurbert Baker endlessly defend his actions on the victimless crime committed by Genarlow Wilson? Does this mean we won’t get to hear Dubose Porter wax on eloquently about the dead horse that is education in Georgia? And what about poor old David Poythress? We were counting on hearing him beat the dirty secsh about the head and shoulders for at least the rest of this year.

Oh well, there’s always the Republicans to play with. Maybe somebody could get in touch with the Daily Kos and get a poll released that shows that Nathan Deal has the kind of support that King Roy has and we could dispense with that primary too. There’s the Libertarian dream ticket, Old Fat guy Barnes vs old fat guy Deal vs a lean Libertarian John Monds.

529 days to the election kids, remember if you want real change, vote Libertarian, Vote John Monds!

Ray

May 23rd, 2009
10:17 am

As a school teacher, I was angry with Barnes when I voted for Perdue.

I screwed the pooch. Lost in my angst was the FACT that the GOP doesn’t give crap about the schools, or anything else that doesn’t send money straight to the wealthy’s pocket.

Never again. I’d vote for Pelosi, God Forbid, before I ever vote for another GOP for Governor.

Sadie

May 23rd, 2009
10:48 am

There is not a school teacher in this state that will vote for anyone but DuBose Porter. He is the best pro education candidate this state has ever seen and by the time the election gets here the rest of Georgia will know it as well. The election is over a year away. DuBose has lead the fight on saving education from the current Republicans. His name is the first one on HOPE. He was Chair of both Education committees. He is in this thing for education. Just wait until he gets around the state. He won his last election, after 27 years , by 76%. That is called customer satisfaction and that is what Georgia wants. Go back and watch the House tapes on what he did just this session. He may not have the name ID of a past Governor, but he also didn’t abuse the teachers either. Teachers are voting for DuBose.

Money talks

May 23rd, 2009
10:49 am

Barnes took zillions in “campaign contributions” from the road builders and developers so they will own him if he gets back in office. They also own the Repubs. I don’t think they own Poythress, Porter or Baker. Yet. We need a governor/government that answers to the people and not to PACS and campaign $$$ donors/bundlers.

Dave The Wave

May 23rd, 2009
11:35 am

The flag flap will rear it’s venomous head again if Roy runs and that will be the end of him one more time. After all, the guy is an idiot. Here is a citizen that can’t even pronounce the word “schools” like an educated individual. God save us all if he becomes Governor again but I believe our family cat has a better chance of getting elected …

Political Mongrel

May 23rd, 2009
1:30 pm

Roy Barnes did his best to run the state as if he had been personally anointed, not elected. There’s no way I would vote for Barnes. Then again, there’s no way I’d vote for any of the dunderhead Republicans who’ve run the state like a pack of elementary schoolers this last few years. Unless a candidate with foresight, integrity, guts, personality, and brains comes along again, we’re doomed to another cycle of mediocre to lousy government in Georgia.

Will Jones - Atlanta

May 23rd, 2009
2:48 pm

How can we induce the sons and daughters of the families which make Georgia strong to don the uniform of Our Armed Forces in good times and bad, if we reward only the physical cowards and morally compromised with holy elected office? In the census of Ancient Israel, for those who care at all for Holy Scripture, only the able-bodied willing to bear arms “counted.”

Deal, Perdue, Poythress, Gingrey, Barnes, Chambliss, Isakson (?) all dodged.

Max Cleland showed his character by joining and surviving, he proved his character when he quit the 9/11 Commission…he is one of us, the People of Georgia. It is in our best interests, long term, setting an example for what righteous choices in our youth will be rewarded later with social elevation, to make an example of Max Cleland and elect him to the governorship of this greatest of the American States.

Annuit Coeptis

JimC

May 23rd, 2009
4:21 pm

Oh goodie. King Roy is back. :-)

Will Jones - Atlanta

May 23rd, 2009
6:32 pm

When will my Haldol arrive? I need a new pseudonym. The Pope is after me.

Will Jones - Atlanta

May 23rd, 2009
6:43 pm

Yes you do, “Name-thief.” Butt the pope is no doubt your “pal.”

King Roy

May 26th, 2009
7:42 am

Roy is a Republican running on the Democrat ticket. The GOP knows they are not going to win GA so they put their best candidate on the Dem ticket. Good thinking!!

Lucy

May 26th, 2009
10:09 am

Wow, what a bunch of uninformed folks you people are that are speaking ill of Roy Barnes. You really have no clue, and that scares me to death! Roy Barnes did not destroy this state, Sonny Perdue did. Those that voted Roy Barnes out office were teachers because they didn’t like losing tenure, you know that little thing that prevents them from being fired when they screw up, but the rest of us working class get fired at the whim of the boss. The other group that assisted in removing Roy Barnes from office was the flaggers–those folks that can’t get passed the fact the South lost the war and worship a piece of cloth rather than their state and the citizens. The last group that assisted in helping Roy Barnes lose the election was the private sector. They didn’t like it when Governor Barnes did the right thing for the state, and they didn’t like it when he wouldn’t do what they wanted so they stabbed him the back. I could name names but you already know who you are.

Roy Barnes, at no time, meant harm to any teacher. If you know anything you should know he is married to a former teacher and his daughter is a teacher-so why would he do that? Do you think his wife and daughter would not have expressed their opinions if they thought what he was doing was wrong? Get over it already.

You better hope Roy Barnes is re-elected Governor if you want this state saved. Otherwise, you can kiss it goodbye!

Informed people

May 26th, 2009
10:26 am

I would say that most well educated and “informed” people know the difference between passed and past.

Lucy

May 26th, 2009
12:52 pm

If “well informed” people know anything then, then they should know that the only chance Georgia has is Roy Barnes.

Polling and Political Wrap-Up, 5/27/09 | News Fu

May 27th, 2009
11:22 pm

[...] which sounded a little bit like a campaign speech. If Barnes gets in, he automatically becomes the favorite to be the Democratic nominee, according to a recent Insider Advantage poll. The Republican field is [...]

PeacheyKeen

June 8th, 2009
9:26 pm

Daisy Duke,
You must be “skipping thru the tulips” because Roy Barnes will win the Democratic nomination be a landslide. Who will rival him, the man with the rug on his head Thurbert Baker? Blacks don’t like Thurbert Baker because of all his “anti-black” positions over the years (ironic), and Whites won’t vote for him because they know that he’s a quintessential “flip-flopper” who can’t be trusted.
DW is right. Roy Barnes is the only candidate who has a viable chance to win. John Monds (the Libertarian) is a sound choice as well.