Sonny Perdue abandons Gingrich ship for Tim Pawlenty
One wonders if a lifeboat might have been packed and waiting before the iceberg struck. This from the aggressive Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty, whose campaign is being run by Nick Ayers, a former aide to a certain former governor:
MINNEAPOLIS - Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty’s presidential campaign announced today that former Governor Sonny Perdue will join its national efforts. Until today, Gov. Perdue was Newt Gingrich’s national campaign co-chair.
“Tim Pawlenty is a great man, he was a phenomenal governor, and he is the person I now believe stands the greatest chance of defeating President Obama. He is the only candidate who has laid out a real plan to grow the American economy, and his track record in Minnesota is proof he’s the right man for the job,” Perdue said.
“I am thrilled Governor Perdue is joining my campaign. He is revered among governors as a thoughtful, sincere man whose faith, character and passion for good policy is second to none. He’s a dear friend and with his help we’re going to continue to build momentum to win the nomination and ultimately the presidency,” Pawlenty said.
With all due respect to Herman Cain, Perdue’s quick realignment is an indication of the fact that Georgia is now in complete play — look for Mitt Romney to challenge Pawlenty for the state.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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98 comments Add your comment
Obama in 2012!
June 9th, 2011
7:02 pm
another flip flopping republican–sonny perdue, jumping on the bandwagon of another republican who has no chance against obama. Obama will beat any of these candidates easily. Don’t the republicans have anyone with some new ideas?
pn
June 9th, 2011
7:03 pm
“Revered among governors?” Oh really? He was at best a part-time governor who was more interested in feathering his own nest than looking after the needs of the citizenry. Like so many of his peers, he apparently sought public office mainly because it offers so many opportunities for financial gain. Perhaps he did it so well at it that he is now revered among governors, who aspire to enrich themselves as efficiently as he did.
Just Wait
June 9th, 2011
7:15 pm
The Republicans would do well to concede the 2012 election. They don’t have any chance of a victory with the 300 or 400 people who either have announced or thinking about running. All they will do is shoot themselves in the foot while aiming at the others. Folks, it’s gonna get ugly.
Paul Revere
June 9th, 2011
7:18 pm
Perdue is a turncoat. A lying spawn who spent 8 thieving years as governor. This “news” is no shock to those who know Sunny.
I heered he was an Ayrab
June 9th, 2011
7:19 pm
i think these yahoos will be beaten like a drum. no ideas except cut taxes and drill baby drill.
morons
arnold
June 9th, 2011
7:28 pm
I guess there won’t be a Palin/Gingrich or Gingrich/Palin ticket next time. Too bad, so sad.
observer
June 9th, 2011
7:28 pm
pn hit the nail on the head
arnold
June 9th, 2011
7:29 pm
Just Wait
June 9th, 2011
7:15 pm
It’s not going to get ugly. It’s going to be fun.
khc
June 9th, 2011
7:32 pm
kiss of death for tpaw
Avid fan
June 9th, 2011
7:39 pm
Keep up all the political jokes and insults.
I’m bored.
BABY SAY
June 9th, 2011
7:41 pm
BABY BIN SAYEN DAT HUMMIN KANE GOIN WEND GEOORJEE>><,( BABY SAY ((** $ WAT BABY SAY IZ GIOIN BEEE$$!!!!!
DHD
June 9th, 2011
7:42 pm
Sounding better for Herman Cain!! Get on the Cain Train!!
boo
June 9th, 2011
7:44 pm
Should have hitched his horse to Herman Cain….sorry sonny.
Wake Up Georgia!
June 9th, 2011
7:49 pm
Sonny Perdue abandoned Georgia too years ago. The republicans running for president this year are the most negative bunch of folks in my memory. They deserve each other.
huh
June 9th, 2011
7:56 pm
Was there another former governor Perdue named Sonny?
Martin Williams
June 9th, 2011
7:59 pm
Sonny is smart. Newt got zero chance against Obama and any other fool in line. Another reason why Sarah Palin is on the waiting list. I have zero sympathy for the GOP when Obama kicks any challenger in the behind very badly in 2012. Maybe 2016 the GOP will get another chance. Tax cuts are very old ideas and of course it is NOT creating JOBS. Even Ronald Reagan raised taxes for the economy to pick steam…………
eatmotacos
June 9th, 2011
8:01 pm
Sonny was just the warm up act for the “Shady Deal”. Speaker Ralston’s lobbyist sponsored European family vacation pales in comparison to Deal’s world tour boondoogles. It would be interesting to know how many family members accompany him. Shouldn’t the details of these Georgia citizen funded trips be entered in the public record?
Robert
June 9th, 2011
8:02 pm
What a mess!
WhosNailinPalin?
June 9th, 2011
8:17 pm
At least he’s not wasting his time on the skirt-wearing idiot from the frozen north.
deegee
June 9th, 2011
8:18 pm
“Until today, Gov. Perdue was Newt Gingrich’s national campaign co-chair.”
So much for making a commitment. What prompted Sonny to accept the position in the first place? Didn’t he know from the start that Newt is a self serving jackazz?
Mike
June 9th, 2011
8:22 pm
Thanks Sonny, In just 24 hours you have help me know two different people not to vote for. Anyone who hangs with a crook like you has no need to be President. Hell they don’t need to be a citizen!
Obama is toast
June 9th, 2011
8:24 pm
Obama is a goner in 2012. He makes even ding-dong Jimmy Carter look like an effective leader. Obama has done more to promote Conservativism than anyone in the last 100 years, including Ronald Reagan.
This Guy Can Win. | Bulldawgy
June 9th, 2011
8:25 pm
[...] Perdue, reviled by hating liberals, has decided to take his toys and play with another candidate. For what it’s worth, I am inclined to support him too. Spread the love…Share [...]
Do nothing Gov.
June 9th, 2011
8:32 pm
Don’t look now but we are close to another drought and that bobo didn’t do a thing about it. And I vote Republican.
Joe
June 9th, 2011
8:32 pm
Well, if Perdue is Pawlenty’s staff, then I will vote for Perry or other such as Cain. I will never vote for someone as corrupt as Sonny and staff.
Bobby
June 9th, 2011
8:34 pm
For anyone to describe Sonny Perdue as a man whose faith, character and passion for good policy is second to none must make the Father, Son and Holy Spirit all shake their heads.
As Governor the man was deceitful, as well as dishonest in appropriating bills and monies for his own personal use with the help of his personal attorney in the Georgia legislature. Governor Sonny Perdue has/had no redeeming moral values I am aware of.
Rainy Day
June 9th, 2011
8:34 pm
Bush tax cuts kept in place, troops still in Afgan and Iran (with a surge), Patriot Act renewed, Gitmo still open, military tribunals okay, etc ….Yeah, Obama’s full of new ideas.
What about
June 9th, 2011
8:36 pm
Perry/Rice 2012
or
Perry/Christie 2012
Frederick Douglass
June 9th, 2011
8:37 pm
Newt’s arm candy Callista is of no use to him now. Look for a blond, blue eyed, middle aged, diamond bedecked matron to be on the auction block any day now.
Joe
June 9th, 2011
8:39 pm
Yea, although repub field is weaker than normal, and I am a libertarian, Obama is close to toast! If gas and employment is still down next year, Obama gets run out of office!
Greg
June 9th, 2011
8:47 pm
Perdue is for sale to the highest bidder, so I guess Newt got outbid.
My Name should be POT Head
June 9th, 2011
8:48 pm
2 words, SONNY LIED!!!
obama/binden=obomb us bindladen
June 9th, 2011
8:50 pm
Obama in 2012! Exactly what ideas do Obankruptus have? Change we can foreclose in.
obama/binden=obomb us bindladen
June 9th, 2011
8:52 pm
obama = head up his arss!
rally
June 9th, 2011
8:57 pm
Folks there is more to this story than just Newt having his entire campaign staff walk out on him and it doesn’t include over campaign resources. Newt did something that they couldn’t hide….lie about….or have a platform to run on and they knew it. Kudo’s to them for it. Whatever he did it will come out shortly.
Frederick Douglass
June 9th, 2011
9:04 pm
Joe @ 8:39:
The electorate at large is probably a little too intelligent to think that Obama controls gas prices, and what of substance have conservatives offered to address job creation? Whether they want to admit it or not, the smart money knows that this recession is global, and simplistic approaches like cutting taxes on the rich isn’t going to cut it.
Jay Stenda
June 9th, 2011
9:05 pm
Let’s see, the political action Gingrich steps: announce National Office campaign, then take a vacation trip to Greece, ring up a half million dollar charge at Tiffany’s, Gingrich election staff resigns. What a great way to get you name out there. But no sexting. Jay Stenda
Drew
June 9th, 2011
9:08 pm
Herman Cain in 2012. Sick and tired of all the republican hacks who claim to be conservative.
Rich
June 9th, 2011
9:09 pm
Newt’s campaign wagon wheels came off already? I was hoping for more entertainment from him, oh well.
Cain / Bachmann
June 9th, 2011
9:21 pm
Herman and Michelle in 2012—a winning team. obama’s toast—the worst president since jimmy carter.
NObama
June 9th, 2011
9:24 pm
Hello to Obama2012. I understand, maybe, how someone could vote for Obama once. But to vote for him again, for reelection, you have to be a total MORON! The USA is in the tank. We are 14+ trillion in debt, and Obama cannnot even provide for a budget…for 2010, OR 2011. He is a poor example of a leader. Let’s just keep giving out aid to anyone and everyone who want a government check. Forget fiscal responsibility, or self-reliance and personal responsibility! Without a teleprompter, he turns into someone who looks like they may be suffering a stroke (Google it)! The unemployment rate is unchanged…or getting worse. The U.S. economy is nonexistent. He tours the world bowing to world leaders, as he proudly states the U.S. is just your average country. He is an embarrasment as far as I am concerned. And anyone who votes for him, must be gettin some gubmint cheese…or be unable to be independent of governement aid. How sad!
PR
June 9th, 2011
9:24 pm
Glad to see Newt’s boat going down. He’s a dirt bag who can’t keep his zipper up. Hope he goes down with the ship…no loss!
Newt
June 9th, 2011
9:27 pm
I’m still in it to win. Don’t count me out yet! Time for another Greek cruise…with my honey. I’ll catch y’all later.
Tired of BS
June 9th, 2011
9:28 pm
I’ve not seen one name that represents real change. Ron Paul as the Repealist in 2012!
big dog
June 9th, 2011
9:28 pm
Like Sean and Rush did to clinton. We should vote for newt operation we win with newt in. hahahahahahaha
Herman Cain
June 9th, 2011
9:29 pm
Cain for President! Vote for me and let’s make History and elect an African-American President of the United States! Wait…I’m a couple years late! SNAP!
John Edwards
June 9th, 2011
9:31 pm
Would anyone vote for me if I switched parties? If I’m a convicted felon, would that be a negative thing in voters minds? I may run with Arnold in 2012! Hooowaaaaaa
ted i'm dead kennedy
June 9th, 2011
9:33 pm
I’m with you John Edwards
ted i'm dead kennedy
June 9th, 2011
9:33 pm
Oh sorry John Edwards, thought you said switch panties!
John Edwards
June 9th, 2011
9:34 pm
Ted, Amen brother!!! Thanks for sticking with me! Let’s go get a stiff drink!!!!!! Wait…are you still dead?
John Edwards
June 9th, 2011
9:35 pm
LOL…good one Sen. Kennedy! I miss our days in the Senate! Or do I miss our daily happy hour?
mojetter
June 9th, 2011
9:35 pm
@Rally i agree 100%….this would make it make sense….im not a fanatic of Obama, but i have to admit his effectiveness as a President has impressed me. I feel the country is in good hands even if things arent the “good times” we are all used to. I can do another 4 years…then we will see who emerges.
ted i'm dead kennedy
June 9th, 2011
9:37 pm
No problem John, I’ll even drive.
Mr. Dithers
June 9th, 2011
9:43 pm
Actually, Newt’s Greek vacation was the most effective part of his campaign. No comments to set off the right, no bombast, presumably no shows of patriotism with women not his wife. He might win it all if he stays on vacation.
Tech Man
June 9th, 2011
9:48 pm
What Drew @ June 9th, 2011 9:08 pm said!
Dennis
June 9th, 2011
9:52 pm
wow, glad to see all the Democrats weighing in and still drinking the Obama Kool-Aid..once the debate starts and the facts come out on Obama, he’s done..no way he can win again.
QueenKing
June 9th, 2011
9:55 pm
Perdue is Embarrassing. You can’t take him out in public. He looks like Mister Potato Head.
Plus he was a lousy Governor and I a say that as a registered republican.
Dennis
June 9th, 2011
9:56 pm
On second thought, keep drinking the Kool-Aid…a worse beating than the 2010 mid-terms is coming…for real
PopulistX
June 9th, 2011
9:56 pm
Democrats have to be president long enough to lead and fix those things republicans will not touch. Then republicans take the presidency again and blame the democrats for the problems. Again, in the last 62 years there have been 22 years of democratic presidents.
Bob
June 9th, 2011
10:02 pm
Anybody would be better than Obama.
Tony
June 9th, 2011
10:03 pm
This certainly convinces me to avoid Pawlenty!
yuzeyurbrane
June 9th, 2011
10:04 pm
Is this a joke?
Dennis
June 9th, 2011
10:06 pm
Populisx, Democrats have largely created all of the entitlement programs, and for the most part, grown them all incomprehensibly…thus, they are the major problem creators..though I cannot give Repub’s a pass..they too have contributed, but not nearly as much…the whole lot need to go..term limits for Presidents, only right to have for Congress and Senate
Clinton "Skink" Tyree
June 9th, 2011
10:07 pm
As T. Boone Pickens said, “The ol’ boy rode up in front of the grandstands and fell off his horse.”
Hopefully Newt will accept the fact that he’s an echo — a voice from the past and no one cares what he thinks. What he did speaks louder than what he thinks.
Representative Weiner
June 9th, 2011
10:08 pm
Has anyone seen my camera?
Need to snap some pics stat!
Mid Rhoades
June 9th, 2011
10:16 pm
Obama, the worse President ever…well he has had plenty of help & does not stand alone. The best strategy for success is the support of others and even the President of the USA cannot succeed w/o support of congress. Everyone wants a piece of the action when all is well…remember OBL…well now is the time to accept responsiblity & be accountable for all the trickery & sabotage efforts to see that President Obama fails. I haven’t seen one republican with a plausible plan for helping this country to prosper…where is the patriotism in that?
@ rally
June 9th, 2011
10:39 pm
I agree. Newt G is a very smart man, but for his senior staff to quit like they did, there must be some “goat photos” out there.I wonder if he’s as clean-shaven as Rep. Weiner’s weiner is…
Amen, Dennis!
June 9th, 2011
10:40 pm
Well said!
Avuncular Thomas
June 9th, 2011
11:07 pm
If anyone bothered to vet Cain, he would be tossed into the garbage bin like burnt toast. q.v. Aquila.
The real world.
June 9th, 2011
11:08 pm
obama wants everything you have.He is working on the poor to make it look like the rich are keeping you down.Not the truth and if the lunatic obama stays in office you will be without and still trying to make ends meet and it will be a FUTILE EFFORT!GOD BLESS EVERYONE.
Pewter
June 9th, 2011
11:10 pm
White people are just stupid!!!
Pewter
June 9th, 2011
11:12 pm
White people have a false sense of entitlement that simply doesn’t exist anymore. White republicans are simply pedophole losers.
Pewter
June 9th, 2011
11:13 pm
Cain is a stupid a$$ dummy. What have republicans done for this country in the last 100 years? NOTHING, that’s what. White people simply suck!
JRW7
June 9th, 2011
11:13 pm
I am a X Republican voter, Republicans are trying to kill MEDICARE, and this MEDICARE issue will kill the Republicans, I am now VOTING for the DEMOCRATS, who support MEDICARE!
Pewter
June 9th, 2011
11:15 pm
PRESIDENT Pbama, the black man, has done more than Reagon, or either Bush could EVER dream of doing. Hell, they were all too retarded to even think on their own. Republicans are just racist losers. Blacks are better than you. Whites are stupid and inferior… get over it!
Sonny Perdue abandons Gingrich ship for Tim Pawlenty | Conservative GA
June 10th, 2011
12:05 am
[...] http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2011/06/09/sonny-perdue-abandons-gingrich-ship-f... Click here to cancel reply. [...]
Canton
June 10th, 2011
2:10 am
I don’t understand how Sonny Perdue could add that much value to Pawlenty’s campaign, he just seems like a singularly untalented individual. Unless maybe they need a fish expert.
eatmotacos
June 10th, 2011
2:25 am
Sonny knows a lot about cowboy boots. I had the privilege of meeting him once; he is a vertically challenged male. Without his cowboy boots with 5 inch heels, which he wears even with tuxedos, he would come to about my armpits.
Clinton "Skink" Tyree
June 10th, 2011
6:51 am
“I bet my money on a bobbed -tail nag, now I’ll bet on the bay.” — Sonny Perdue
“Me, too!” — Guv. Nathan Deal
Clinton "Skink" Tyree
June 10th, 2011
6:55 am
@Pewter: You’re exposed — just a pathetic Tea Party Republican stirring the stew.
Geeez....
June 10th, 2011
7:12 am
A can of orange juice will be better than the clown currently residing in The White House.
unemployed now
June 10th, 2011
7:14 am
I would like to personally thank Sonny P for his creation of a “sick tax” on hospitals. Of course being a republican he calls it a “fee”. Either way, Piedmont has been forced to lay off hundreds of workers in order to send millions of dollars a month to Grady and Children’s Health Care.
He was lobbied HARD from the tobacco industry and the alcohol industry not to reach into their pockets, so he has sucked us dry.
Remember when you hit your nurses call bell and no one comes who to blame. Most of the people who were laid off have over 20 years with the hospital. And these were good seasoned veterans who no what they are doing. There is no school better than experience and keeping the green kids right out of school is a mistake, but they make less money.
Geeez....
June 10th, 2011
7:15 am
“Whites are stupid and inferior…”
Oh really? Tell me all the great inventions and how far superior the African continent is again. Can you say “racist bigot”?
Geeez....
June 10th, 2011
7:17 am
JRW7
June 9th, 2011
11:13 pm
Hey not so bright one….do you know how many $$$’s Obamacare is taking FROM Medicare? But, don’t let those bothersome facts get in your way.
E. Ruffin
June 10th, 2011
7:17 am
Perdue is a liar as evidenced by his cut throat take down of the REAL Georgia flag. But in any case, any Republican, or any monkey hanging from a tree branch, would lead this country better than the marxist, socialist, anti-American who presently resides at 1600 Penn. Ave.
Tee
June 10th, 2011
9:12 am
@NObama
It’s clear from your comments, YOUR A SOUTHERN FRIED AZZ HOL
mehlman rings twice
June 10th, 2011
9:14 am
I tried to tell you people months ago that Newt was in trouble. Even if he stayed in the race, women are not going to vote to reward his wife for sleeping with another woman’s husband. That is one taboo that is yet to be overcome in this country.
Concerned Voter
June 10th, 2011
9:58 am
At least the Tea Party will have a “worthy” film to see at the cinema that weekend it will be showng.
Concerned Voter
June 10th, 2011
9:59 am
Palin’s movie will give the Tea Party a few laughs before they go back to the drawing board again . . . again. . . again. . . in Gingrich and Perdue tradition. It takes a great deal of press to clear up what they meant to say the first time.
Michael
June 10th, 2011
10:10 am
Georgian complaints about Obama ring hollow because he was declared “worst president ever” in January 2009. So the losers think he’s the worst ever — you already lost that vote. You act as if you won the election and somehow he snuck in illegally and took office.
Oh if only we had McCain/Palin — I hope they run again and win. Then China will take us over but you all will just blame Obama, Clinton and Carter.
Jon Lester
June 10th, 2011
12:08 pm
These people who are so sure of Obama’s vulnerability are part of a radio audience that has shrunk by 30% in the last year, and of course Rush and Sean aren’t about to admit that to them.
Tucker
June 10th, 2011
12:41 pm
Governor Perdue obviously knows when a campaign is dead. Governor Deal does not.
Geeez....
June 10th, 2011
1:03 pm
Jon Lester
June 10th, 2011
12:08 pm
“These people who are so sure of Obama’s vulnerability are part of a radio audience that has shrunk by 30% in the last year, and of course Rush and Sean aren’t about to admit that to them.”
Kinda like The Community Organizer’s approval ratings. LOL!!!
cash in
June 10th, 2011
2:21 pm
sonny perdue–crooked to the core. He’s got millions from his “friends” made while governor and is now trying to cash in on some new campaign. republicans never learn with all these crooks.
Brenda
June 10th, 2011
2:21 pm
We think while on the vacation, our boy newtie had a fling with another hot mama and wifie found out!!! He may be castrated now.
catlady
June 10th, 2011
6:04 pm
A title that doesn’t last long: MRS. Newt Gingrich.
catlady
June 10th, 2011
6:06 pm
I’m guessing Newt got outbid on Purdue.
Big opportunity awaits candidates in second GOP debate (Updated) | Kyle Wingfield
June 13th, 2011
7:53 pm
[...] Tim Pawlenty has an opportunity to impress the common voter the way he’s been impressing some others. [...]