Johnson now in guv’s race
With Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle out, longtime state Sen. Eric Johnson jumped this morning into the 2010 governor’s race.
State Sen. Eric Johnson, R-Savannah
Johnson has an all-over-the-place reputation as one of the Republican leaders in the Senate. Sometimes, the Savannah architect sounds — even acts — like a smart guy with a good sense of humor. But he also can get a bit prickly and has a penchant for saying the stupidest things.
Overall, conservatives are likely to be pleased Johnson has thrust himself into the race. Many are a bit mistrustful of the three leading Republicans already in the contest (Karen Handel, John Oxendine, and Austin Scott), because each has strayed from ultra-conservative orthodoxy at one time or another.
Johnson was going to run for lieutenant governor in 2010. That changed when Cagle dropped out of the race last week because of health problems. Cagle certainly gave him a push by announcing that he’d instead make the less demanding run for re-election as lieutenant governor.
Johnson has lined up a lot of GOP establishment support. Among the folks working on his campaign: rich guy Jamie Reynolds as finance chairman, former Perdue press aide Derrick Dickey, former state party staffer Ben Fry, and Randy Evans, who was the state party’s expert at disenfranchising minority voters, as legal counsel.
Democratic candidates Thurbert Baker, DuBose Porter and Randy Poythress are still a bit frozen in lining up support, because many Democrats are waiting to see if former Gov. Roy Barnes will run.
From Johnson’s press release come the blah-blah things that politicians always say:
“As I traveled the state campaigning and visiting with Georgians from all walks of life, I was thrilled to see the support and encouragement we received in every corner of this state,” said Johnson. “Georgians recognize that we need a steady, tested, and experienced leader to address the challenges we face as a state and to build on the progress we’ve made under Republican leadership. My vision for our future focuses on how we can create new 21st Century jobs, reform education to improve student achievement, and ensure effective and ethical government. Effective leadership is about trust. I hope to earn the trust of the Georgians and the opportunity to serve as their Governor.”
Hmmm … “to build on all the progress we’ve made under Republican leadership?” Like I say, the guy does have a good sense of humor.
Barnes may decide soon
Roy Barnes will determine within a month whether to take a stab at returning to the Governor’s Mansion in 2010, the founder of a group formed to encourage Barnes to run told members today.
“I have confirmation that Governor Barnes knows about our group and is going to make his decision in the next 3-4 weeks,” Michael Kozol of the Facebook group “Roy Barnes for Governor (Georgia 2010)” said in a message to members.
After Barnes’ 2002 upset at the hands Sonny Perdue, the Cobb County attorney swore off politics. In recent months, however, he’s been making speeches to small groups around the state, criticizing the Republican-led state government for its failure to address transportation and education problems — two issues Barnes had attempted to address during his one term as governor.
A March 29 AJC article that reported Barnes was thinking about running prompted the formation of two Facebook groups aimed at recruiting him — Kozol’s, which already has 588 members, and “Run ROY Run (Roy Barnes for Governor),” which has 349 members.
Three well-known Democrats already are running. State Attorney General Thurbert Baker and state House Minority Leader DuBose Porter dropped their hats in the ring earlier this month, joining longtime politician David Poythress, who’s been running since last year. But Barnes’ name recognition, his charisma and the chance that his victory would give Democrats a sense of sweet vindication would make him a heavy favorite to win the nomination.
An Insider Advantage poll last month indicated he’d be a formidable opponent to any of the three most well-known Republicans who plan to run in 2010. Polls this early in the race usually have more to do with name recognition than anything else. For what it’s worth though, the former governor was neck-and-neck with Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle (35-39), ahead of Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine (38-33) and ahead of Secretary of State Karen Handel (34-29).
Perdue is barred by the Georgia Constitution from running for a third term.
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