Your morning jolt: First reactions to Roy Barnes’ entry into 2010 race for governor

Updated at 11:17 a.m. New material marked in bold.

The day is young, but already Republicans and Democrats — and all those in between — are giving thought to what the entry of former Gov. Roy Barnes means to the 2010 race for governor.

The first thing this morning, Jeff Breedlove over at the campaign of Republican John Oxendine e-mailed a reminder that in late April, a Daily Kos poll showed Oxendine beating Barnes, and Secretary of State Karen Handel losing to the former Democratic governor.

Handel has already indicated that she’d prefer to run against Barnes — rather than any of the other five GOP candidates.

Her campaign includes media consultant Fred Davis, creator of the “rat video” that Sonny Perdue used against Barnes in 2002, and spokesman Dan McLagan, whose sharp tongue gave voice to anti-Barnes sentiment in that part of Georgia that lies beyond metro Atlanta.

Said McLagan in a morning e-mail:

Republican candidate Eric Johnson was more succinct. “Roy who?” he twittered.

But Dick Pettys at InsiderAdvantage senses some GOP squirming:

It also impacts the Republican calculus, putting a name with star power into the mix in what some had rated as a pushover field for whoever captured the Republican nomination.

Barnes knows the state and in the past showed himself to be a prolific fundraiser, although that skill did not help him fend off the surprisingly strong challenge from Sonny Perdue. (He outspent Perdue $20 million to $4 million.)

Among the Democratic candidates, former National Guard commander David Poythress said Barnes just called him, to let him know that he was in the race.

Down in south Georgia, Sid Cottingham at Cracker Squire gives voice to that part of the Democratic electorate that wants to avoid a bloodbath similar to the 2006 primary fight:

If Michael [Thurmond] wants to stay at Labor, and this is very possible, Thurbert [Baker] and DuBose [Porter] can run against each other for the second spot. For if Michael does not run for lieutenant governor, we sure need a good candidate, and both qualify just as each would make a great governor.

But running against Roy will prove divisive for the party (never, hopefully, as divisive as the race between Mark Taylor and Cathy Cox), and the wasting of good candidates since neither Thurbert nor DuBose can win against Roy who will quickly emerge as the front-runner (which of course everyone knows he was in 2002).

With these adjustments, Roy’s welcomed entry will not result in the demise of two other good Democrats whom we need as we rebuild.

Erick Erickson, at Peach Pundit, puts the matter more simply: “Now will Thurbert Baker take the next step and move to Lt. Gov.?” he asks.

Jason Pye, a Libertarian blogger, is directing readers to a post from early this week:

We’ll add a few more reactions as we get them. In the meantime, consider these items found while perusing this morning’s ajc.com:

Chief Justice Leah Sears says she won’t jail Perdue over budget demands, but is stumped on a gay marriage question.

Gwinnett County Commission votes down proposed tax hike.

John Oxendine offers explanation for appointment of a longtime donor to chair a powerful behind-the-scenes agency.

Equitable Building auctioned for $29.5 million, nearly half-price.

Georgia will spend $60 million in tax breaks, incentives to attract the Dayton maker of cash registers and ATMs.

Poll: US divided over torture, closing Guantanamo.

Some opinion:

Your Luckovich fix.

Cynthia Tucker says Guantanamo’s closing is crucial.

Matt Towery on a southeast Georgia prom that remains segregated.

From elsewhere in Georgia:

MT: Half-empty flights have some questioning federal subsidies.

And beyond:

WSJ: States’ budget woes are poised to worsen.

WP: A List of U.S. nuclear sites inadvertently posted online.

NYT: A U.S. report finds airstrike errors in Afghan deaths.

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