An ‘Atlanta Dream’ candidate for U.S. Senate?
I was talking this morning to one of the more seasoned Republican operatives in Georgia, who told me of an effort to bring some new names into the 2014 race for Senate and the congressional contests that could open up as a result.
Atlanta Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler is vice president of investor relations and corporate communications at Intercontinental Exchange. Vino Wong/vwong@ajc.com
The profile under emphasis: Young, wealthy, business-oriented, conservative but not hide-bound, and an outsider to both Georgia and Washington politics.
Which brings us to the two owners of the Atlanta Dream, the WNBA team. Mary Brock fits four of the five categories – philanthropically, she and her husband have heaped cash upon Georgia Tech and Emory University.
But it is the younger Kelly Loeffler that rings bells. She serves as the spokeswoman for IntercontinentalExchange, which just purchased the New York Stock Exchange. She’s got an MBA from DePaul University.
More to the point, last fall Loeffler gave $750,000 to Restore Our Future, the Super PAC that went to bat for Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. She also gave $10,000 to the Georgia GOP last fall.
That’s a woman who’s laying down some chits.
Another name that fits the above profile is that of state revenue commissioner Doug MacGinnitie. Look for him to jump into the 6th District congressional contest if U.S. Rep. Tom Price of Roswell sallies forth into the GOP race for Senate.
One more thing: Saxby Chambliss’ announcement last week that he would not seek re-election in 2014 hit at exactly the wrong time for U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Savannah, who was overseas on a congressional trip. But clearly he’s interested in making the jump to the upper chamber, and is trying to hold his supporters together. He sent this email this morning:
Dear Supporter,
As you know by now, Saxby Chambliss has announced that he does not intend to seek a third term in the U.S. Senate. I have spent a great deal of time in the days since praying and discussing this opportunity with my family.
As one of my strongest supporters, I want the opportunity to discuss this with you as well. Unfortunately I am out of the country and, between the time difference and spotty cell phone coverage, I am not able call everyone I would like. That’s why I am sending you this email.
I am very interested in this opportunity to expand my service to our great state. As we prepare, I would appreciate your continued support, prayers, and the benefit of your thoughts. I will host a conference call shortly after I return. In the meantime, I hope you’ll share your thoughts with me by replying to this email.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
For instant updates, follow me on Twitter, or connect with me on Facebook.
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
74 comments Add your comment
Posted by Order of H. E. the Margrave of Azilia
January 30th, 2013
3:53 pm
I like the way this is shaping up. This could be as entertaining as the Republican presidential primary this time last year.
Nutmeg
January 30th, 2013
3:54 pm
Okay, okay, one more thing about Al Franken…
Franken attended Harvard College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts cum laude degree in polysci in 1973.
(Ryan is a graduate of Miami University, I think?)
Brasstown
January 30th, 2013
3:55 pm
Loeffler, Cain and maybe Jim Tom to round out the field.
graphite
January 30th, 2013
4:00 pm
I like her for she has balls.
Still Trying to Figure Out the Job Description
January 30th, 2013
4:01 pm
“Vice president of investor relations and corporate communications”
So….she takes clients out to lunch or dinner, attends “business mixers”, and answers emails?
Apparently that, plus being married to a billionaire, means that she is totally qualified to run for the Senate.
What a joke.
Doug
January 30th, 2013
4:06 pm
This is going to be fun. As a Democrat I’m going to encourage and maybe even give money to the craziest one of them, which looks like Paul Broun although there are so many crazy choices.
Retired Soldier
January 30th, 2013
4:07 pm
Nutmeg-
Ryan wprked in a congressional office. Whine about money? Now you know why we are 16 trillion in debt.
Doug
January 30th, 2013
4:08 pm
@Synonymous – Reagan’s most memorable movie was “Bedtime for Bonzo”. He played opposite a chimpanzee and you don’t call him a comedian?
Rhett Butler
January 30th, 2013
4:15 pm
Franky, my dear, I don’t give a damn.
Retired Soldier
January 30th, 2013
4:15 pm
Al Franken is the Paul Broun of the senate. Had a great radio show didn’t he.
Another Voice
January 30th, 2013
4:37 pm
re Still Trying to Figure Out the Job Description: VP Investor Relations has much more to do with ensuring that the company communicates effectively with Wall Street analysts and investors, as well as complying with SEC regulations and financial disclosure. Corporate Communications is, in many companies, responsible for all external-facing communications, such as website and marketing collateral. You make her sound like a lightweight, when you have no idea what her role entails.
For the record, I do not know Ms. Loeffler.
But, “Still Trying,” you’re the one who comes off as a joke.
markie mark
January 30th, 2013
4:37 pm
@earl…”Brasstown, you stole my thunder. Best (and maybe only) thing she ever did was marry a billionaire (who owns the company she works for)…I guess in the GOP world, that qualifies her as a legit candidate.’
did you apply that same logic to Hillary Clinton, our co-president, about 15 or so years ago?
Abe Froman
January 30th, 2013
4:43 pm
If being an attractive female and marrying a rich, successful guy is a crime, then there are a lot of criminals out there. When my daughter becomes marrying age, I’ll tell her to look for the guys with the great jobs and good education, not the idiots, drug users, or losers.
Having said that, she probably isn’t qualified to run for Senate, but based on what happens in DC these days, what qualifications do you have to have to work in that cesspool?
Wilbur
January 30th, 2013
4:45 pm
Never heard any Thurston Howell jokes from the Democrats when King Roy ran for office.
rebelga007
January 30th, 2013
4:57 pm
the founding fathers are probably looking down and thinking “what happened to our experiment in democracy”?
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
January 30th, 2013
5:06 pm
Earl pegged it, and Governor Deal is doing a fine job.
Georgia’s and America’s focus must now be on impeaching, convicting and removing from office the president, complicit in the transparently obvious Sandy Hook predicate to disarm the People on behalf of the satanic Rockefeller/Rothschild/Fed/UN fascist plutocracy. Viz. “an armed tactical police officer from a neighboring jurisdiction was taken into police custody and released” after being caught fleeing the scene of the “mass shooting” by police. His obvious partner, filmed aerially, was allowed to escape.
Col. Hunt confessed to the Nixon/GHW Bush CIA assassination of JFK, not that it was necessary after the ‘Hunt v. Marchetti’ jury’s judgement, and Bush and Cheney did 9/11 using the same CIA, and Mossad.
Truth is from the Creator, America’s only Sovereign.
Lies, treason, and taboo in service to perverts is of Satan.
America is Zion, G-d’s Country, and most of all, Georgia is, and Atlanta is the prophesied New Jerusalem.
That our posterity not be lost and Our Nation become accursed: Evil must be abolished.
Only Satan’s spawn disagree.
honested
January 30th, 2013
5:31 pm
Will jones whatever,
I disagree because, let’s face it, what you posted is nuts and I would have to be nuts to agree.
And to reeeetired, Senator Franken’s radio show was intelligent and informative. The guests were always deeply versed in policy development (as was the host). I do realize it was quite different than tuning in every day to make sure you are on the right talking point and you don’t ever need to think for yourself.
Buckhead Boy
January 30th, 2013
5:38 pm
What a Republican operative may hope and what can slither out of a Republican primary are two very different things.
Away With The Far Right Idiots
January 30th, 2013
5:49 pm
Anyone but Broun, Price or any of the other folks in DC now…they are idiots.
JSS
January 30th, 2013
5:54 pm
She’s no Kathy Betty!!!
Jim Galloway, Still no opinion on Leah Ward-Sears?
RCB
January 30th, 2013
11:55 pm
Too many of you seem to be just plain ole jealous of anyone who has more money than you. You’re so hateful!
Political Roundup for January 31, 2013…Red Racing Horses | Politicaldog101.Com
January 31st, 2013
9:11 am
[...] GA-Sen: Some unorthodox R candidates are floated, including Atlanta Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler. [...]
Still Trying to Figure Out the Job Description
January 31st, 2013
10:54 am
“Another”, you just described what the people under her are doing. I’m sure they work very hard and do an excellent job of keeping the company running.
Her job is to have pretty hair and be married to the boss.
rukidding
January 31st, 2013
2:31 pm
Loeffler out
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2013/01/31/kelly-loeffler-of-ice-has-little.html