Your morning jolt: Rick Santorum leads, Newt Gingrich trails in Tennessee poll
A Vanderbilt University poll this morning shows Rick Santorum with a commanding 38 percent lead in the GOP presidential contest in neighboring Tennessee, with Newt Gingrich in a statistical tie for fourth place with Ron Paul.
Gingrich will spend all of today at events in Nashville. Tennessee voters, like those in Georgia, will cast their primary ballots in the 10-state, Super Tuesday vote on March 6.
The top line in Tennessee:
– Santorum, 38 percent;
– Mitt Romney, 20 percent;
– Ron Paul, 15 percent;
– Newt Gingrich, 13 percent;
– Undecided, 13 percent;
That’s based on telephone interviews with 815 likely GOP voters with an MOE of +/-4.1 percent. A larger aspect of the poll, also conducted Feb. 16 to 22 by the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions at Vanderbilt, indicates that both Santorum and Mitt Romney would narrowly defeat President Barrack Obama in November.
The Vanderbilt poll measured antipathy toward the current occupant of the White House this way:
Fifty-nine percent of those polled correctly identified Obama’s birthplace as Hawaii, with 7 percent saying he was born in “Another Country.” Twenty-four percent of those polled believed that Obama was a Muslim, while 39 percent said he was Protestant. Among the 14 percent of registered voters who think of themselves as a member of the Tea Party, however, 43 percent thought Obama was a Muslim, Catholic, Jew or an atheist.
And yet, the poll summary also includes these lines:
Voters didn’t seem to think that having a Republican or Democrat in the White House would influence the economy much. Forty-one percent thought the economy would be “fairly good” or “very good” the next few years if Obama is reelected, versus 39 percent if a Republican became president.
***
Ever since GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich decided to give up on Michigan – polling shows him in the single digits – and concentrate on Georgia, there’s been the question of whether Rick Santorum would reciprocate.
After a large reception in metro Atlanta eight days ago, Santorum has yet to schedule another appearance in Georgia, and these paragraphs from an Associated Press piece indicate he may remain absent:
With Gingrich the home-state favorite in Georgia, the state offering the most delegates on Super Tuesday, Romney and Santorum were turning to Ohio, the state with the second-biggest Super Tuesday cache.
Romney was expected to head straight there from Michigan on Wednesday. Santorum wasn’t even waiting until the votes were counted and planned to go to nearby Toledo on Tuesday.
Underscoring the fight already being waged in Ohio, it’s the only upcoming state where Romney and Santorum and allied super political action committees were all spending money on television advertising, according to records of advertising expenditures provided to The Associated Press.
***
We’re told that a bill to enforce the application of the state sales tax on some Internet businesses is expected to make its debut today. The vehicle is likely to be HB 993, which is now simply a shell of its future self.
***
The state Senate today will take up HB 800, the measure to make good Gov. Nathan Deal’s appointment of Joe Jarrard as assistant adjutant general of the Georgia National Guard. State law requires five years’ service in the Guard. Jarrard, a 20-year Army vet who retired as a lieutenant colonel, has none.
Dale Russell of Fox5 Atlanta has this summary of the dilemma. In addition, Russell has posted on Facebook a promo touting an examination of Deal’s appointment of former state Sen. Jim Butterworth as adjutant general.
***
Also on the defensive today will be Tim Echols, chairman of the Public Service Commission. SB 483 would allow the five-member PSC to return to its former practice of choosing its own chairman, rather than rotating the position. It’s very likely that Echols would be ousted on passage.
The bill’s lead sponsor is state Sen. Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga, but Ronnie Chance, R-Tyrone, is also a co-signer. And Chance is one of the governor’s floor leaders.
Writes Echols on his Facebook page:
Back in ‘92, the PSC could choose their chair, but there was constant bickering, drama, and infighting that kept them from being able to elect a chairman. The legislature got dragged into it because of how bad it made the state look and how embarrassing it was for the PSC. They set up the rotation system.
By rotating the Commission chair, all the posturing was removed and the PSC could focus on its job–protecting consumers and regulating Georgia Power.
One other benefit that was not originally intended is that the various regions of the state gets “representation” as the chair rotates. This is certainly not the most important dimension to the system, but with power plants and telephone companies situated all over Georgia, it keeps the Commission’s focus on all of our state.
***
The AJC’s Politifact Georgia today takes a look at this statement from state Supreme Court Chief Justice Carol Hunstein: “Our small staff of 51 is still fewer than we had a decade ago, yet our caseload – like that of other courts — has grown.”
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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180 comments Add your comment
No Longer Republican
February 27th, 2012
1:13 pm
If Sick Rantorum gets the GOP nomination I believe even the state of Georgia may go BLUE! Wow what a night that would be!
WOW
February 27th, 2012
1:13 pm
Once again TD introduces race into the discussion.
td
February 27th, 2012
1:13 pm
Where are all the secular humanist at today? Why have they not posted anything about the Obama campaign asking the African American churches to actively campaign for his re election?
Just as I thought, you all only dislike the churches involvement in politics if it is on the right. Bunch of hypocrites.
Auntie Christ
February 27th, 2012
1:14 pm
I’m sure all the Black folks out there appreciate the concern shown here by the benevolent White men posting here. You darkies jes lissen to massa td and uga 1899, they’ll tell you what’s best fo you. They’ve always had the best interest of Black folks at heart.
They like to point out that Black folks vote 90-95% for Black candidates, while the White folks split their votes, implying I guess, that white folks are better voters. It eludes them that the Irish vote 99% for an Irishman, the Italians will vote 99% for an Italian, and Latinos will vote 99% for a Latino in races where their ethnic group is opposed by someone outside it.
Carole
February 27th, 2012
1:16 pm
td
I think whoever the Republican nominee is would make a wise decision to select Allen West as their VP, although Mark Rubio would be just as good a choice.
++++++
I’d love to see Alan West put on the ticket. Of the 4 top contenders, who do you think he would go better with?
td
February 27th, 2012
1:17 pm
Mark
February 27th, 2012
1:11 pm
I can say from the bottom of my heart that yes I have wanted the conservative African Americans to join with the true conservatives in the Republican party to join forces since after Sonny was elected to drive out the RINO’s from the Republican party and have a truly conservative state.
UGA 1999
February 27th, 2012
1:22 pm
No Longer….Fine pick one of my comments and we can discuss it. That is if you can stay mature.
2.1 Billion Christians in the world. That is a hard number to argue with.
td
February 27th, 2012
1:22 pm
No Longer Republican
February 27th, 2012
1:13 pm
Gallop poll
Obama 49%
Santorum: 48%
orlando
February 27th, 2012
1:23 pm
Carole, I want to repost your post, it says it all…..
“Once again the bi-polar that goes on in the Repub party is shown on these boards. Now most Repubs claim that blacks vote DEM 99% of the time. So when they do the same thing in 2008 and the candidate happens to be black they claim that the only reason blacks voted for Obama was because of his color. What, were blacks supposed to vote Republicans that time? How intelligent does that make you guys look?”
That says it all…
WOW
February 27th, 2012
1:23 pm
@ TD
Telling them that they are on a plantation is certainly not a good way to convince them.
Becky
February 27th, 2012
1:24 pm
good grief-td and uga 1999 appear and all reason and logic leave as well as I. There really should be an intelligence test given and passed before one can post here.
UGA 1999
February 27th, 2012
1:24 pm
The Democratic Party hates the poor and uneducated.
They do everything possible to keep them poor and uneducated.
td
February 27th, 2012
1:24 pm
Carole
February 27th, 2012
1:16 pm
Romney the best because he would give the campaign creditability with the Tea Party and help Romney carry the state of Flordia.
UGA 1999
February 27th, 2012
1:25 pm
Becky….Pick a topic. Lets debate. You use broad brush strokes to generalize.
td
February 27th, 2012
1:26 pm
WOW
February 27th, 2012
1:23 pm
@ TD
Telling them that they are on a plantation is certainly not a good way to convince them.
Not me. I am repeating what other conservative African Americans are saying.
WOW
February 27th, 2012
1:29 pm
Which is why the convincing is not working. Maybe you should look at other African American conservatives, who are getting larger majoritires of the AA vote are doing. Tim Scott and JC Watts are just a couple of examples.
WOW
February 27th, 2012
1:33 pm
@ UGA
Santorum said over the weekend that we were ’snobs’ for expecting our children to go to college. So which is it? We want people to remain uneducated or are our expectations are too high?
Marlboro Man
February 27th, 2012
1:37 pm
Cro Magnum man evolved after Santorium, even though he don’t belive in evolution.
Marlboro Man
February 27th, 2012
1:39 pm
An electrician or carpenter that has math skills would be better than one that doesn’t have them.
honested
February 27th, 2012
1:40 pm
‘give credibility to the tea potties’.
Don’t bet the farm on that one.
They have already been accidentally given all the ‘credibility’ they are ever going to get.
The rest of us realize they are just the lame whiners that have always sought first to find a way to skirt appropriate taxation.
td
February 27th, 2012
1:44 pm
honested
February 27th, 2012
1:40 pm
No comments about Obama getting in bed with the African American churches? Where is the same level of disdain you had last week?
Carole
February 27th, 2012
1:47 pm
td
Romney the best because he would give the campaign creditability with the Tea Party and help Romney carry the state of Flordia.
++++++
And there would be a true conservative on the ticket.
orlando
February 27th, 2012
1:49 pm
“Not me. I am repeating what other conservative African Americans are saying.”
This statment implys you are African American, I sure hope that is not correct, and just another example of your stupidity.
honested
February 27th, 2012
1:49 pm
td
Nothing has changed.
I live in a country where freedom from religion is expected from the government.
Wallis T. Coper
February 27th, 2012
2:01 pm
that is right an we done wont a other black in the W.H. an sence oboma shows blacks cant be presadents so west is just a other oboma that wonts too take taxes from wites an give taxes to the blacks. we must take back are county an take wellfare from the blacks and oboma an west.
DJ Sniper
February 27th, 2012
2:04 pm
Allen West as VP?? BWHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Keep that nutjob as far away from the White House as possible. Rick Santorum too.
Carole
February 27th, 2012
2:04 pm
td
Telling them that they are on a plantation is certainly not a good way to convince them.
Not me. I am repeating what other conservative African Americans are saying.
++++++
Here’s the thing, many blacks believe that these guys are the ones who are brain-washed. Like Herman Cain they talk like whites in black face. Saying there is no racism until it slaps them in the face. Believing that there are no obstacles for blacks in America. If they would acknowledge both and say, but in spite of this you can make it. It’s a challenge but here are the things I did. And more importantly, how about reaching back instead of looking down while you’re telling all the other blacks how good it is at the top.
WOW
February 27th, 2012
2:08 pm
@ Carole
Well said.
Wallis T. Coper
February 27th, 2012
2:09 pm
cane is a oboma puppiit an i will not vote for him. mark my werds oboma will not win carorel!!!! we must get behine gangrish if we wont to take this county back from oboma an his puppits.
Wallis T. Coper
February 27th, 2012
2:12 pm
an gangrish wife way pretty then obomas. they just voted for him sense he is black. palen an the tea party will change that.
Becky
February 27th, 2012
2:16 pm
wallis-you are a bit too obvious.
Wallis T. Coper
February 27th, 2012
2:17 pm
TO BECKY: what does that meen?
Mark
February 27th, 2012
2:21 pm
@ carole
February 27th, 2012
2:04 pm
Excellent!
td
February 27th, 2012
2:24 pm
Carole
February 27th, 2012
2:04 pm
Way back when I worked for DFCS Micheal Thurmond was the director and I had to go to meeting where he addressed the entire state staff about Welfare reform. During his speech he stated that the time of coddling life long welfare recipients was over and that we needed to show them ” Tuff love” or they would always have a dependency on welfare and we would fail them. He said that the dependency could be broken if we told them that work was good and honorable and everyone had the responsibility to take care of their own family.
This is the same type of message that Herman and Allen are giving out today to the African American community. I think Bill Cosby went around later and gave the same type of message. The libs and the “welfare pimps” like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are giving a totally different message that due to racism African Americans can not make it on their own without the special handouts, set asides and programs.
Which is the better message?
orlando
February 27th, 2012
2:25 pm
@Carole, well said.
Wallis T. Coper
February 27th, 2012
2:27 pm
they thank they should get wellfare an its payback for slavry for all them years they dint get payed an oboma an his puppits is helpen them
orlando
February 27th, 2012
2:27 pm
I’ve never heard Jesse jackson or Al Sharpton promote welfare. Show us where they did this td?
Corey
February 27th, 2012
2:29 pm
UGA, tell you what. Run Herman Cain and see how much of the black vote he gets.
Random Reader
February 27th, 2012
2:29 pm
UGA. is a a Racist Coward….. Still throwing out the hate..still hiding behind his brand of foolishness…Come on out from under the rob and SAY WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW!!! Coward!!
Wallis T. Coper
February 27th, 2012
2:31 pm
newton county use too be a nice amercan place but now its crime drugs wellfare an pimps ever sense oboma become presadent
td
February 27th, 2012
2:35 pm
orlando,
Read the article below. Jesse has been doing this similar stuff for years. Anytime a politician wants a person to take responsibility for their actions then Jesse says no because it is “racist” to make people take responsibility.
http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2011/10/rev_jesse_jackson_judge_saved.html
Corey
February 27th, 2012
2:37 pm
UGA, history never has come down on the side of conservatives and never will. People such as yourself deep down inside realize this. That’s what keep you awake at night. That’s whay Rick Santorum went on a tirade this past weekeend sounding like a complete fool. Oh the gnashing of teeth! As more and groups in this country become liberated you and your ilk so desrarately want to hold onto a smither of what makes you feel more empowered or run back to the past.
Becky
February 27th, 2012
2:39 pm
wallis-obvious and not funny. why don’t you go outside and play?
Corey
February 27th, 2012
2:40 pm
Even with all the typos, UGA, my message is clear.
theGOPsucks
February 27th, 2012
2:43 pm
I agree with Puck and let’s not forget the many years during and after reconstruction when blacks in the south were falsely arrested and rented out to their former owners, railroads or coal mining companies to continue suffering in bondage while whites made huge profits. Many more suffered under peonage and other forms debt bondage. It’s a travesty that this country still will NOT take responsibility for its past and still today blames blacks for the past conditions that lead to the way things are today in America. Your darn right I’m voting for Obama again.
Wallis T. Coper
February 27th, 2012
2:45 pm
TO BECKY: i done no what you meen.
UGA 1999
February 27th, 2012
2:45 pm
Corey….Ok, I will entertain your ignorant remarks for a moment. Tell uss all why you like Obama.
Sandy L.
February 27th, 2012
2:47 pm
Gingrich will be visiting Chattanooga in the morning. He has a fundraiser planned at 8am for a round table discussion with him only $1000. per person. The venue according to the invitation is “Chattahoochee Choo-Choo”. Pardon me boys, hasn’t Gingrich ever heard of the Andrew Sisters or Glen Miller. Way to go, Newt. Thought with all that history you brag about, you would know the name of the Chattanooga Choo Choo.
Carole
February 27th, 2012
2:48 pm
td
This is the same type of message that Herman and Allen are giving out today to the African American community. I think Bill Cosby went around later and gave the same type of message. The libs and the “welfare pimps” like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are giving a totally different message that due to racism African Americans can not make it on their own without the special handouts, set asides and programs.
Which is the better message?
+++++++
The problem is, both messages are needed. There are some people who have grown up believing tha the only way they can make it is to get help. That could be due to the fact that maybe they’ve never seen a better or different way. I didn’t grow to hate snow until I moved from up north to the south. Now you would have to drag me back up there. But nobody hit me over the head and told me I was stupid for preferring cold dank days over warm sunshine. They didn’t make me feel that I was clueless for not realizing it sooner. For 22 years that was all I knew. packing on layers of clothes and walking a mile in knee deep snow was just how things were and what you did. Some folks just don’t know any better. But when you demonize them for it, you don’t win them over.
I do agree with Bill Cosby’s message. I think people were wrong for how they came after him. I also think there is room for the likes of Sharpton at the table. I used to despise him. But the issues he tackles today are much more focused. He has become a much wiser person over the years.
portcharlotte
February 27th, 2012
2:48 pm
Watch Rick Santorum make his case on NBC’s Meet the Press yesterday.
http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/rick-santorum-makes-his-case/6giifeb