Your morning jolt: Herman Cain’s ‘Peach State Travelers’ — don’t call them a Peanut Brigade

After months of focus elsewhere, the GOP presidential campaign of Herman Cain is buckling down and establishing an operation in Georgia.

On Saturday, the Cain campaign intends to establish a state headquarters in DeKalb County, just off I-85 inside the perimeter. Cain’s national headquarters has been in a Stockbridge office complex near his home.

The Cain campaign also named as Georgia co-chairs Dave McCleary and Rachel Little, both longtime GOP activists.

Cain intends to make a party of the 11 a.m. opening at 3700 DeKalb Technology Parkway, Atlanta, Georgia 30340. On the guest list, including the candidate: State Sen. Josh McKoon, R-Columbus, and state Rep. Josh Clark, R-Buford; Republican National Committee member Linda Herren; and radio talk show host Neal Boortz, for whom Cain often subbed on AM750 and 95.5FM News/Talk WSB.

Update at 10:30 a.m.: GOP chairman Sue Everhart, whose name appeared on the Cain guest list, sends word that she won’t be there — an appearance would violate her obligation to stay neutral in intra-party affairs.

No one dares call it the Peanut Brigade, but the Cain campaign says it has also established a flying (well, bus-riding) squad of volunteers that will be deployed across the Southeast when needed.

The name: Peach State Travelers. What? You expected the Peanut Brigade?

The latter, for the young people out there, is the name that Jimmy Carter gave to volunteers sent into Iowa in 1976 to testify on his behalf, forever changing the way we elect presidential candidates.

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Likewise, GOP rival Newt Gingrich is ramping up efforts to solidify his support here. Maria Strollo Zack, a state Capitol lobbyist and GOP activist, has been named Gingrich’s Southeastern political director.

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In Iowa, conservative Christian activists are attempting to create an anti-Mitt Romney firewall, and Newt Gingrich – not Herman Cain – is emerging as the consensus candidate. Despite his three marriages.

Consider this quote that conservative radio talk show host Steve Deace gave to Newsweek:

“I see a lot of parallels between King David and Newt Gingrich, two extraordinary men gifted by God, whose lives include very high highs and very low lows,” Deace says. David, after all, committed adultery with the ravishing Bathsheba, then had her husband killed, among other transgressions. The Bible makes room for complicated, morally compromised heroes. Now Christian conservatives, desperate for an alternative to Mitt Romney, are learning to do so as well.

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Here’s that “Mitt v. Mitt” video that the Democratic National Committee has launched against GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney:

From the Associated Press:

The new ad released Monday is part of an aggressive effort by Democrats to portray Romney as being inconsistent on a number of issues important to conservative voters as he seeks to challenge President Barack Obama next year. Democrats are trying to slow the former Massachusetts governor’s progress with six weeks remaining before Republican primary voters begin picking their nominee.

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In October, U.S. Rep. John Barrow, D-Savannah, introduced a bill to require more congressional oversight of big-ticket spending in the federal budget. By going overboard on an earmark ban, Barrow argued, Congress had handed spending power over to the executive branch.

Given that he’s the No. 1 target of House Republicans next year, it’s no surprise that Barrow’s legislation hasn’t moved an inch. The surprise is in the kind words that Georgia’s two U.S. senators had for the idea. From Larry Peterson and the Savannah Morning News:

U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss had the most to say.
“Currently, there is no Senate version of this legislation,” the Georgia Republican replied. “However, I share concerns about giving the administration broad authority over vast amounts of money without congressional oversight… .

“The lack of accountability for programs that provide funding, like that given to Solyndra, is one of the reasons I opposed the Democrats’ stimulus package, which allowed the … loan to be made.”

And from a spokeswoman for Georgia’s other GOP senator, Johnny Isakson:

“Johnny hasn’t had an opportunity to review … the legislation. However, he has always been in favor of more oversight when it comes to all spending, including reviewing former obligations…”

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Georgia Public Broadcasting reports that state Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, D-Decatur, has introduced legislation that would require a two-year waiting period on new cities.

- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider

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