Georgia sequels to Florida’s Rubio-Crist civil war
Because show business is show business, political strategists and Hollywood producers often employ the same tactics.
Among movie-makers, success at the box office means only one thing: a sequel, featuring the same characters and same plot.
In politics, there’s no bigger hit this year than the Republican civil war between Gov. Charlie Crist and former state House Speaker Marco Rubio in the Florida race for the U.S. Senate.
Backed by tea partyists and GOP hard-cores, the 39-year-old Rubio is mopping the floor with the 53-year-old Crist, who started the race with the backing of the Republican establishment, in both Florida and Washington.
A single embrace by a stimulus-peddling President Barack Obama has crippled the well-tanned governor. The latest primary polls put Rubio 18 points ahead.
That kind of success is bound to encourage imitation. In Georgia, the resignations of U.S. Reps. John Linder and Nathan Deal, within the space of three days, have virtually guaranteed that the dynamics of the Rubio-Crist fight will dominate state GOP politics through the July primary.
The contest for 9th Congressional District, which overlaps the top of Georgia like a hound dog’s ear, has been under way for nearly a year, ever since Deal entered the race for governor.
But Deal’s decision to leave Congress, now postponed until March 31, has pushed a stately procession of 10 declared Republican candidates into overdrive.
The resignation is all but certain to trigger a mid-May special election (and likely runoff) that will give one candidate the right to call himself the incumbent. A second vote, for the full two-year term that begins in January, would be held in July.
Two candidates have dominated the fund-raising — state Rep. Tom Graves of Ranger and state Sen. Lee Hawkins of Gainesville. Graves, a 40-year-old developer and builder, has tied himself closely to the tea party movement. He uses the language of insurgency, referring to his supporters as “freedom fighters.”
“I think people are fed up. They’re saying enough’s enough. They’re an energized group of people,” said Graves campaign manager Tim Baker. In 2008, FreedomWorks, the group led by Dick Armey that helped kick-start the tea party movement, gave awards to two state lawmakers. One was Rubio. The other was Graves.
Hawkins, 59, is more a traditional Republican — a practicing dentist for 30 years, first elected to the Legislature in 2006. His focus in the congressional campaign is small business. He pitches himself as a steady conservative and has had little contact with the tea party movement. “He’s not really associated with it at all,” said his spokesman, Steve Holman.
Georgia’s 7th District, which Linder is giving up after 18 years, covers much of east metro Atlanta, including most of Gwinnett County. Like the 9th, it is solid Republican territory — at least for now.
The 7th has picked up about 87,000 newly registered voters in the past four years. Only 21 percent are white.
The field could become crowded, but the first two Republican candidates to jump in after Linder announced his retirement were state Sen. Don Balfour of Snellville and state Rep. Clay Cox of Lilburn.
Cox immediately declared himself the “tea party” candidate and challenged Balfour to give up his powerful position as chairman of the Senate Rules Committee — which determines the fate of most legislation in the Capitol. “It is a conflict of interest to hold legislation sponsored by people or groups whose support you want in a congressional race,” Cox said.
Cox is 41. Balfour is 53. Yet another instance of a Young Turk positioning himself against an older, more established rival.
But every Rubio needs his Crist. And Balfour insists he won’t be typecast. Asked whether he, too, would claim to be the tea party candidate, the Waffle House executive replied, “I’m the Republican candidate.”
But he has allied himself with tea partyists in the past. When the Gwinnett County Commission threatened a 25 percent property tax increase last summer, it was Balfour who threatened the commissioners with a recall — and forced them to back down.
“I carry the flag up the hill. I don’t just vote pro-life. I pass the bill,” Balfour said. As for conflicts of interest, the senator said he was quite willing to discuss legislation Cox introduced last year to limit government oversight of the private probation business.
Cox is CEO of a large private probation company.
This is the problem with all sequels. Scripting an outcome is especially hard when we don’t know how the original drama — the one in Florida — will end until August.
For instant updates, follow me on Twitter.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
87 comments Add your comment
jim
March 6th, 2010
11:14 pm
Don’t Be Fooled – Your clarity on the issue speaks volumes. Very well said.
dawgmom
March 6th, 2010
11:16 pm
jim and d2 — it is late and I am going to bed. For my final words to the both of you — parsing words has never been a true Southern trait. We may disguise our thought, as in “bless your/her/his heart”, but we have never held back our true feelings. Point being, the current administration is leading our country, our children’s country and our grandchildren’s country down a path of destruction that nobody (regardless of political affiliation) should wish on anyone. I said it earlier and I will say it again — truly study history and what is now going on in the United States. As an exclamation point on all I have said — I am not a Republican. I am an American that is greatly concerned with the direction our country is headed. We are unique as a nation and do not/should not think any other country can do it better!
Republican legislator
March 6th, 2010
11:19 pm
If you people from the 7th and 9th congressional districts vote for any of these announced candidates (Cox, Balfour just to name two) they are out of their ever loving minds. Check out their legislative records. Are you kidding me giving tea party supporters credibility. The Republican Party has given us our marching orders. Play to our fears, we are all stupid, we will vote against our own interests. We republicans must support any foolish legislation, idea or candidate. We have no choice–we are all stupid!! VOTE REPUBLICAN – THE GUTLESS WONDERS OF MODERN TIME POLITICS!!!!
Republican legislator
March 6th, 2010
11:22 pm
@DAWGMOM – you are an American that votes Republican. YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN!!!! Bless Your Heart!
The Future
March 6th, 2010
11:37 pm
Republican Legislator – Start searching the want ads. The clock is ticking on your significance. Maybe Sarah Palin will give you a job as a nanny for her daughter’s illigitimate children.
The Future
March 6th, 2010
11:50 pm
Don’t Be Fooled – I am so glad you wrote that. The Republicans are trying to “con” us. It is so obvious. Why should anyone vote Republican? Rebublicans all but destroyed this country. Now all they can do is stand in the way of a sincere attempt to fix it; if that is even possible. Blame rests solely on the Republican Party.
Steve Holman
March 6th, 2010
11:52 pm
Wow. My comments were inadvertently taken out of context in this column in relation to Lee Hawkins.
Lee Hawkins is the real conservative in this race — and with a record to prove it.
First, Lee is a strong supporter of the Tea Party movement. He has also attended many conservative events for years.
Lee Hawkins opposes tax increases. He opposed the Bush stimulus package and opposed the Obama stimulus package. He continues to oppose so-called stimulus packages now — and will oppose them as a Congressman.
Lee has voted to cut the state budget spending by billions, and has helped lead efforts to aggressively reduce Georgia’s state budget by about 25% over the past two years.
And having run a successful family business, a dental practice, for more than 30 years, Lee has been a solid friend of small businesses and entrepreneurs.
My comments were simply intended to refer to the fact that Lee Hawkins does *more* than make speeches — he walks the walk on reducing the size of government, not just talks the talk like so many politicians we see in office today — of both political parties.
Lee is a wholehearted supporter of the Tea Party movement and has the legislative record to match.
DON'T BE FOOLED
March 7th, 2010
12:05 am
Steve Holman – Nobody cares about your “Tea Party”. Really, nobody! Get a life.
The Future
March 7th, 2010
12:15 am
Steve Holman… Ditto what DON’T BE FOOLED said. Your obstructionist views are only hurting this country. You and your racist friends probably had a good ol’ laugh at the Michelle Obama chimpanzee email from your buddy in Nashville. Stop with your hate mongering. You small minded biggot.
dawgmom
March 7th, 2010
12:45 am
A final comment, then truly off to bed — if you don’t have any comment that is backed up with facts (not MSM/MSMBC/MediaMatters rhetoric), you will not be taken seriously in any comment thread. With that, goodnight all and thanks all for the uplifiting banter tonight!
The Conservative Return
March 7th, 2010
1:02 am
Steve Holman, good for you for speaking up. Hawkins is right that it takes more than just talk from politicians. If Hawkins did what you say he did, meaning he cut budgets and oppose tax increases, then HE gets my vote.
Signed,
CMD in Dawsonville
vuduchld
March 7th, 2010
1:27 am
Larry
All one has to do is go back to the 1980s and see that what the Tea beggers are offering is the same old slosh of “limited goverment” ranted by a walking dead President named Ronald Reagan. And what did he do? Send deficits intothe stratoshpere. The same wron out manta was attemted by your buddy W jsut a few years ago. Remember those tax cuts for the rich. What did they do? Put us in this position we’re in now. Doesn’t take a weasel on crack to figure these things out, unless you’re a Teabegger.
Larry H
March 7th, 2010
2:08 am
I have to agree with “The Conservative Return” from above. Hawkins has received my vote for GA Senate in the past and I will vote for him in the Congressional race based on the great things I have seen from him. He really is a no nonsense guy and a straight shooter.
Mike
March 7th, 2010
4:49 am
‘A True Patriot’, right. Of course Southern Company is a widely held stock. Own some of it myself. As a Georgia legislator, though, I would have had the decency to have a fellow lawmaker — a non-Southern Company stockholder — be the lead author on a bill that handed Georgia Power millions from its ratepayers. As to that bill “saving money,” check back in about 10 years and count how much you saved…
Reality Check
March 7th, 2010
6:58 am
Why has the wrold, and bloggers, turned so negative?
Road Scholar
March 7th, 2010
9:45 am
Reality Check and others: Why has the world, and bloggers…not proofread their writings and rantings to ensure proper grammer and spelling? Maybe that is a sign of their ability to clearly examine arguments on both sides!Their attention to detail?
Also, above some alluded to their use of history in making their arguments. They say Bush II was not at fault for 2006-2008 since there was a Demo Congress, but that Clinton was at fault for what happened during his presidency. By the way, he had a Repub Congress! So which is it? The Congess’s fault, or the President’s fault? I’ll help. The president is in charge! He signs the bills to make them law!
OBAMANOMICS
March 7th, 2010
10:23 am
KEEP DRINKING THE KOOL-AID AND DONT FORGOT ‘A CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN’.
I’M LULLING YOU TO SLEEP NOW, HAVE A GOOT NAP….
TURN OFF FOX NEWS, THEY ONLY REPORT THE TRUTH AND I DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT.
I’M HOPING FOR 4 MORE YEARS YOU KNOW AND I WILL REALLY SPIN MY WEB IF YOU LET ME.
STAY AWAY FROM TEA PARTIES AND REPUBS AS THIS IS LIES AND YOU KNOW, I DON’T LIE.
THANKS,….HUSSEIN
OBAMANOMICS
March 7th, 2010
10:24 am
HEE,HEE,HEE
DannyX
March 7th, 2010
10:41 am
Thats some pretty weak tea they are serving in Texas.
They were shut-out. 0-11 in Republican Congressional primary races the Tea Party ran a candidate in. Third place in the gubernatorial race.
If the Tea Party can’t even win in Texas they are destined to obscurity. Maybe they need some good ol’ Fox News creativity to help them out.
Fox News made up crowd numbers to help them last fall. Rallies attended by 600 people suddenly became huge gatherings as they used footage from previous, non Tea Party events to make the movement seem larger. Some of you fell for it, no news there.
The Tea Party movement is a figment of the imagination. Created by Fox and the mainstream media to create some summer ratings.
Fox why not pretend the election in Texas was a clear victory for the Tea Party? Invent some stuff. Do some editing.
Audrey in Georgia
March 7th, 2010
11:19 am
Republicans have voted and continue to vote AGAINST YOU. Why are you still voting
for them? I guess bad habits are hard to break for some of you.
DannyX
March 7th, 2010
11:23 am
Bi-partisan? Tea Party?
When they start attacking the legacy of President Reagan I will believe it.
Reagan = Crist. Well…. Reagan was all little bit more liberal than Crist. The Tea Party movement would never accept another Reagan. They would run against his type.
Reagan created the new cabinet level Dept of Veterans Affairs. Big government.
He raised taxes.
He created a huge deficit. HUGE.
He gave amnesty to millions of Mexicans, who ended up multiplying which created even bigger families that now vote Democrat. If Reagan had not given amnesty McCain would now be President.
Tear down that wall Tea Party! Start defending your values.
DannyX
March 7th, 2010
11:35 am
I think Fox News should do a big dramatization. Maybe a mini-series.
‘The Impeachment of President Ronald Reagan.’ Show how the impeachment trial would have gone had our Congress done the right thing. It would be pure Fox drama.
You could see first hand how Reagan threw out the Constitution. Forced big government on us. Added millions of alien Democratic voters. Raised taxes.
Come on Fox. We want a spectacle. Maybe a few pimp suits edited in.
IMPEACH REAGAN NOW!!! (on Fox News)
DannyX
March 7th, 2010
1:04 pm
At the same time Fox commentators can have some fun.
They can finally use their image of the chimp more freely. Perhaps a picture of Reagan holding hands with Bonzo. They can have Bonzo outfitted in a poncho and sombrero to help capture the racial aspect of their message. Which is of course that President Reagan is responsible for the current, certain generation of “cradle to grave” dependents addicted to perpetual government handouts now voting Democratic.
Lesson learned. Keep Hollywood out of our government!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Its Bedtime for Bonzo!
Charles R'well
March 7th, 2010
5:31 pm
If you all think that a Democrat should run, why isn’t there one? Better yet, why isn’t there an Independent voice running that will bury both parties? Let’s get someone involved. Instead of whining, RUN SOMEONE!!! and not some lame duck, right-winger democrat turn-coat like that moron Doug ” Mr. Army, Womanizer” Heckman.
Charles R'well
March 7th, 2010
5:39 pm
**Strike** Womanizer from the record regarding Heckman-
Barack Hussein Obama
March 7th, 2010
7:53 pm
Everyone seems to overlook I’m HALF white and I was raised by my white Grandmother.
James
March 7th, 2010
8:27 pm
@Charles R’Well–That would be the Honorable Col. Douglas Scott Heckman, a fine dedicated soldier, financial expert and family man. How dare you write such vitriol about Col. Heckman! This intelligent gentleman will make a fine candidate again and will no doubt, beat any of the GOP’ers. Col. Heckman will be an excellent representative for the 7th district. Please don’t call him such degrading names. Go to http://www.dougheckman.com to see his amazing record. It’s so irresponsible of you to start rumors about this incredible man!
Michelle
March 7th, 2010
8:34 pm
Gosh Jim. I read all you comments and learned that you think you are really smart and don’t like republicans. What is it that you do actually support?
Billy O
March 7th, 2010
9:07 pm
Guys…..we need to stop fighting with each other about who is right or wrong and throw all the bums in washington out. Not some of them…..ALL OF THEM!!!!!
Hawkins for Congress
March 7th, 2010
9:52 pm
Senator Lee Hawkins has my vote. He has been my Senator for 4 years and has proven himself to be an effective voice for Gainesville/Hall County. Hope he wins! He’ll do Georgia right in Congress. Vote Hawkins!
UNO
March 7th, 2010
10:28 pm
If you vote for the so-called right, you’re as wrong as they are.
Bring Me the Head of Deforest Kelley
March 8th, 2010
9:10 am
All I’ve heard from the tea baggers is a lot of anger and criticism. Not once have they put forth any solutions of their own. Their only talking points seem to be how terrible are incumbents, and how terrible is government in general. But they propose no realistic, practical solutions of their own. Serioiusly… I challenge any tea party person to put forth their solution of how to solve any federal or state policy problem… (and they can even pick the issue)…. “No more taxes” or “more local control” by itself isn’t a solution to anything, its just another set of problems. These people have no interest in governing, just in shouting.
If any of these tea party wahoos get elected, they’ll quickly have to 1) abandon the hard ideology on which they campaign, or 2) quickly realize they have no power to push through their agenda, because in politics, you don’t get anything done unless you comprimise. In other words, they’ll either be completely ineffective, or will have to back down from their hardline rhetoric.
Lanier Peach
March 8th, 2010
9:40 am
Lee Hawkins wants nothing to do with the Tea Party Movement.
Steve is now backpeddling since he admitted what everyone knows.
Just like they try and hide Hawkins’ contributions to Max Cleland.
Publius
March 8th, 2010
9:42 am
Who knows the strongest area of economy last year? Govt spending? Nope, EXPORTS! Up 18%. How could that be?
Why Big Business Secretly Loves Deficits — B/c It Helps Exports. Big govt deficits drive down the value of the dollar, which makes it easier to sell overseas. What big biz really hated about Clinton was his balanced budgets — the value of the dollar was sky high, and it made it harder to sell overseas.
Wasn’t it confusing why W would run up such huge deficits. (the only pres not to raise taxes in war time) — makes perfect sense when you see how it drove down the dollar to help exports. Only problem was all of that money built schools and roads in Baghdad, not in Birmingham. President O. is doing it exactly right — spend domestically, drive down the dollar, drive up exports.
Govts are not household budgets people. Quit pretending like we should just cut back on our milk budget.
Publius
March 8th, 2010
9:44 am
Thanks Deforest. Well Said.
News Update – March 8 2010
March 8th, 2010
10:15 am
[...] In Georgia the electorate sees sequels to the Florida Primaries. [...]
Chambliss, Perdue to host fund-raiser for Crist | Political Insider
March 8th, 2010
10:56 am
[...] Already, Georgia is seeing some spin-offs from the battle. [...]