Despite concerns that a bitterly contested primary could fracture the party, Georgia Republican Party leaders have indicated that they will make no effort to winnow a crowded field in the race for retiring Senator Saxby Chambliss’s seat.
“I’m not concerned about it. I think that the right people will emerge. The party won’t be playing favorites to anyone,” GOP head Sue Everhart told the AJC. She went on to say that an attempt at constraining the field isn’t “the Republican way.”
For his part, Governor Nathan Deal has forsworn his involvement in picking the party’s nominee, stating that the role of mediator/kingmaker is one he doesn’t “value” and that he wouldn’t “assume.”
Democrats, on the other hand, have indicated that their aim is to coalesce behind a single candidate in the coming weeks. Chairman Mike Berlon stated that the party’s “whole goal is to get behind one candidate and make sure we’re unified when we get into the election cycle.”
However, the point could be made that Peach State Democrats lack the luxury of a fluid field in the first place. Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has already forsworn a bid, and Blue Dog Rep. John Barrow has shown little to no overt interest in running statewide.
Michelle Nunn, the daughter of former Senator Sam Nunn, is said to be actively mulling a bid.
Those statements followed the release of a survey put together by GOP firm Harper Polling at the end of last week, which showed a close race for the Republican nomination.
Rep. Paul Broun, the only announced candidate thus far, took 19 percent to fellow Reps. Phil Gingrey and Tom Price’s 18 and 17 percents, respectively. Rep. Jack Kingston, while stopping short of an official announcement, told a gathering of the Forsyth County GOP that he intended to pursue the nomination last Saturday, took 13 percent.
State Senator Ross Tolleson and Atlanta Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler were also included in the group’s poll but received what Roll Call dubbed “negligible” support.
-Brandon Howell
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