Archive for the ‘Tricia Pridemore’ Category

The Georgia Republican party is reporting $1,073,053 in cash on hand as of June 30, according to a financial disclosure filed with the state ethics commission.

The party has raised $854,063 in the last six months, but spent $980,529. Kevin Harris, the party’s executive director, said the fund-raising lull was the result of the economy, and a slack period in the presidential political cycle.

(By comparison, the state Democratic party reports $178,705 in cash on hand.)

That said, given this year’s GOP chairmanship fight, between incumbent Sue Everhart and the governor-backed Tricia Pridemore, fund-raising figures remain something to keep watch on.

Here’s why:

On May 18, four days after Pridemore lost, two major supporters of Gov. Nathan Deal formed something called Real PAC, a political action committee based in Roswell. The chairman is Jim Walters, a major contributor to the Deal campaign and a Deal appointee to the North Georgia Mountains Authority.

The Real PAC treasurer is …

Continue reading Of the state GOP’s $1 million in cash, and something called Real PAC »

When newly re-elected state GOP chairman Sue Everhart arrived home from an out-of-town trip on Wednesday, she found a sizeable bouquet of flowers on her porch.

There was a card attached, which read: “I couldn’t beat Nathan Deal, but you did.” It was signed, “Your friend, Roy.”

Democrat Roy Barnes, defeated by Deal last November in an attempt to return to the Governor’s Mansion, confessed to the delivery – which followed Everhart’s defeat of Tricia Pridemore, Deal’s choice, in the race for chairman at Saturday’s state GOP convention.

“I admire Sue’s courage, and she has been a mainstay in our community,” Barnes said of his fellow Cobb County resident.

Everhart confirmed delivery Friday afternoon. “I will not deny it. I tried to call him and thank him,” she said. But if he truly, truly liked her, the former governor would vote Republican, Everhart said.

- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider

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Continue reading A bouquet of flowers from Roy Barnes — to the chairman of the Georgia GOP »

On Friday night in Macon, Newt Gingrich will give his first dinner speech as a Republican presidential candidate.

C-SPAN has already reserved a spot for its camera. But his YouTube announcement should give you a taste:

The Macon event will no doubt take on the trappings of a homecoming. The former Georgia congressman, who played a large role in the creation of the Republican party in this state, is sure to get an enthusiastic reception. Maybe even a rowdy one.

Many remember the heady days of ’94, when he became only the third Georgian to be elected speaker of the U.S. House.

But Gingrich is now a resident of Virginia, has been for some time, and plans to remain so. And if he wants to be the undisputed favorite son of Georgia Republicans in the coming campaign, he has more work to do.

One word of advice: Keep an eye on Herman Cain, the former radio talk show host and business executive.

Now, listen. To be honest, the title of “favorite son” may not matter. Gingrich will be …

Continue reading The ‘favorite son’ campaign of Newt Gingrich »

In the race for state GOP chairman, former 9/12 leader Tricia Pridemore just showed us something new: An endorsement from Sharron Angle, the Nevada Republican who last year ran an unsuccessful campaign against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid – and is now a candidate for the U.S. House.

Angle takes a slap at Pridemore’s chief rival, incumbent GOP chairman Sue Everhart, who is seeking a third term:

“I am one who believes in limited power and respect for term limits as a means to ensure that those elected to represent us do not rest on their laurels and point to past accomplishments.

“These attitudes can surface at all levels of leadership within our party, and now is not the time to pat ourselves on the back for the big wins in 2010. We must leverage that momentum and use it to defeat Barack Obama in 2012.”

Angle was among a number of endorsements for Pridemore from tea partyists and 9/12 leaders.

- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider

For instant updates, follow me on Twitter, …

Continue reading Sharron Angle’s slap at Sue Everhart in state GOP race »