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Nathan Deal edges out GOP field in Cobb straw poll

4:23 pm July 4, 2009, by Jim Galloway

Just got a call from an elated Harris Blackwood, spokesman for the gubernatorial campaign of Nathan Deal.

Blackwood said his guy took a plurality of the votes at the Fourth of July celebration/barbecue hosted by the Cobb County Republican party at Jim Miller Park.

“Cream rises to the top,” Blackwood said.

These are the numbers Blackwood gave us, confirmed by Cobb GOP chairman Scott Johnson:

— Deal, 120 (28%)

— John Oxendine, 111 (26%)

— Karen Handel, 99 (23%)

— Eric Johnson, 43 (10%)

— Austin Scott, 35 (8%)

— and Ray McBerry, 14 (3 percent).

The Cobb gathering is usually one of the largest in the state, and Deal may have gotten a boost by speaking at the party’s breakfast meeting last week.

Straw polls are only straw polls. The importance of this one may not be the results, but the fact that the top three candidates were so close.

More information is welcome — as is news from straw polls at other gatherings.

For instant updates, follow me on Twitter.

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10 comments Add your comment

Tea Party Tot Dad

July 4th, 2009
5:38 pm

I was at the Cobb GOP event and Oxendine must have bought 100 tickets for his supporters, so for him to only get 111 votes says to me that his campaign is the S.S. Oxendine and about to hit an iceberg. I guess he needs to get busy on Wikipedia editing some more biographies!

Deal’s number are impressive considering that he didn’t have that much of a presence.

herbK

July 4th, 2009
5:46 pm

Both oxendine & deal are lying POS. Hopefully, they sink REAL quick. Everyone except their mother’s hate their guts.

Base

July 4th, 2009
5:48 pm

What a bunch to pick from! DEMs hello.

bobby c

July 5th, 2009
8:33 am

i am so sorry to see this. deal deserted his party and supporters the last time he saw the writting on the wall. like spector, and the rest of the dogs they smell the wind coming and run for cover, food, money, whatever the pot of gold holds, a guy like this will turn his coat and back on everyone and everything WE hold sacrad, and go for the win.
i am watching the presidents on cable, and from Washington to Truman, to a man, they would shudder in retrospect at what is happening in politics today. between him and the ox, i think i am gonna pass.

The REAL GodHatesTrash, Superstar

July 5th, 2009
10:29 am

“Cream rises to the top.”

And some turds float!

I do have to say that Deal is the least moronic of a sorry bunch of stumpbroke fools.

Cobb County Straw Poll « Left on Lanier

July 5th, 2009
11:57 am

[...] July 5, 2009 Cobb County Straw Poll Posted by Gray under Politics | Tags: Nathan Deal | Leave a Comment  Nathan Deal took a plurality of the straw poll votes for Governor in Cobb County. Courtesy of Political Insider: [...]

GoOx

July 5th, 2009
2:42 pm

Nathan, I’ll bring Washington to Georgia, Deal, please stay in DC where you belong, we don’t need what has happened in DC for the past 15 years here in Georgia. My man Ox is the only one who can lead Georgia

So does this mean Ox is Cottage Cheese and Handel is Sour Milk? — Peach Pundit

July 5th, 2009
3:47 pm

[...] Harris Blackwood, spokesman for Nathan Deal’s campaign for Governor, helped to elevate the level of discourse in the campaign by noting to the AJC that Deal’s victory was proof that, “cream rises to the top.” [...]

Cobb GOP

July 5th, 2009
6:07 pm

It is worth noting that Gerry Purcell beat Ralph Hudgens for Insurance Commissioner.

Bob from Cobb

July 6th, 2009
4:07 am

I wish the AJC would pay more attention to the other races in the straw poll. I met several of the candidates for Insurance Commissioner, I am an agent. The only one that knew anything about the questions that I asked was Stephen Northington from Kennesaw. He came in third in the straw poll but he also beat a sitting state senator and he’s never run for office. If the GOP hopes to hold onto power in this state, they better start embracing real people to run for office like Stephen and stay away from the failed leaders of yesterday. Go Stephen Go

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