Oxendine still leads a frozen GOP race for governor
Regardless of the heat, Rasmussen Reports is out this afternoon with a statewide poll that shows the Republican race for governor to be largely frozen in place.
According to the survey firm:
John Oxendine, Georgia’s fire and insurance commissioner, continues to hold a commanding lead over all other Republican gubernatorial hopefuls in an early look at next year’s state GOP Primary.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in Georgia shows Oxendine with 31% support among those likely to vote in the state’s open Republican Primary. That gives him a 18-point advantage over his closest competitors. Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel and Congressman Nathan Deal each attract 13% of the vote.
However, it’s clearly a very open field. Thirty-one percent (31%) of potential voters are not sure which candidate they prefer.
State Senator Eric Johnson has three percent (3%) support, while State Representative Austin Scott tallies two percent (2%).
Conservative businessman Ray McBerry is supported by two percent (2%), and six percent (6%) would like to see some other candidate.
These figures are little changed from June……
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14 comments Add your comment
Ga Values
August 21st, 2009
3:09 pm
The only thing worse than the Republican firld for Governor was last years field for US Senator. I hate Roy Barnes but he is actually less bad than this bunch.
albert
August 21st, 2009
3:10 pm
Actually JO has lost 2% from his last poll email from 2 or 3 weeks ago.
Garrett Michael Hayes
August 21st, 2009
4:17 pm
Oxendine is ahead mostly because he has the best name recognition. As the head of a highly visible state agency, he has been able to use the advertising resources of that agency for the past several years to keep his name and face in front of Georgians state wide, and to do it in a “public service” role, rather than as an “issue advocate” or a legislative combatant.
The Snark
August 21st, 2009
4:45 pm
If they made a movie version of the Republican primary for Governor, it would be called “Attack of the Midgets.”
Jordan Ingram
August 21st, 2009
4:51 pm
It’s so early… Oxendine leads right now b/c of name recognition only. That’s all it takes for “down ballot” races like his former contests. However, for high profile elections, like running for Governor, name recognition will change drastically once the real campaign season begins (with TV ads, etc.). Once people associate a face with that name and see what a goofball he really is, Georgia will clearly reject him.
One reason Barnes has such a real shot at this is he will be the last one standing in November after the GOP nominates any of these lackluster candidates. I mean come on, Karen Handel doesn’t even have a college degree (Is there not some minimal level of qualifications for being Governor?). And while Congressman Deal is the only adult in that crowd, he’s been on the back bench in Congress for so long that he’s become very effective at doing nothing (the next Governor will need to be extremely engaged).
Rose
August 22nd, 2009
2:31 am
Karen Handel’s candidacy puzzles me also. As a high school graduate, she is not qualified for most state government jobs. Yet she wants to run state government and have oversight of our university system? All because she has “business experience”? If you dig a little deeper into all this experience, you learn that she had a few short stints in the pr departments of a few big companies in the 90s. No CEO experience whatsoever. Talk about overselling your qualifications!
LiptonNoSoup4you
August 22nd, 2009
10:58 am
We have no one currently running for governor qualified. Most are liars and crooks, bought and paid for.
Technocrat
August 22nd, 2009
7:38 pm
I would suggest all voters take a road trip and observe the homes [estates, mansions] of many of those majors running for governor.
Oxendine and Handel have the most meager of homes. Research their personal finances and see which have benefited from elected office.
Start up in HALL county on Nopone RD [Godfather Compound] then swing by the King Rats Cobb home with the State Seal inside.
The big cats may expect one of them but the people will speak this time!
Jim Callihan
August 22nd, 2009
9:00 pm
About our longtime Insurance Commssioner – I could not have been more impressed with the way he joined countless other State Insurance Commissioners, formed a “for the people” coalition and stormed Capitol Hill – DEMANDING THAT THE ANTI-TRUST EXEMPTION for insurance corporations be removed immedialtely. His brave and principled stance against these “RICO-PLAYERS” was truly “Statesman-like”.
What? He never did that? I’m “dreaming”? You mean he KNOWS this legalized collusion is going on and has for countless years, but has done NOTHING TO STOP IT?
Wow. That explains why so much insurance-corp $$$ has made it’s way into his campaign…
Technocrat
August 22nd, 2009
9:15 pm
The Majority of State Insurance Commisoners across the US are appointed by respective Governors and do their exact bidding.
Unfortunately few people care about Insurance until they have to file a claim, then later they don’t even think to support the guy whose job it is to help them.
Just as our N Metro Doctor-Congressmen are supported by Big Pharma and Big Medicine where do you expect a politican to get campaign money.
North Korea? Iran?
Jim Callihan
August 23rd, 2009
10:30 pm
AFLAC!
GoOx
August 24th, 2009
8:21 am
Deal, Real, Steal
Jim Callihan
August 24th, 2009
2:00 pm
Vehicular CRASH, Corporate BASH, Political TRASH
Briscoe Democrat
August 24th, 2009
4:07 pm
Rose, here in Texas, Bill Clements (R) dropped out of college, become an oil tycoon and won the Texas governorship in 1978 and 1986.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clements