“Katie - bar the door, thar’s a stampede a comin”
Popular United States Senator Johnny Isakson has confirmed that he will NOT be a candidate for governor in the 2010 gubernatorial election to replace term limited Sonny Perdue. Georgia Republicans braced for a political free-for-all that could rival any Texas “no holds barred” wrestling match. Georgia Democrats heaved a huge sigh of relief. The list of potential candidates is long and impressive.
The first into the race is Georgia Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner John Oxendine. Like Ronald Reagan and Sonny Perdue, John Oxendine is a former Democrat turned Republican. In 1994, he originally announced his intent to run as a Democrat for the Office of Labor Commissioner. Instead, he became part of the Republican revolution in 1994 as a candidate for Insurance Commissioner. Since then, he has been reelected by comfortable margins in 1998, 2002, and 2006. Interestingly, the worst knock on him is that Georgians hate to lose such a good Insurance Commissioner.
Not far behind will undoubtedly be Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle. In a bruising primary in 2006, Casey Cagle defeated Ralph Reed to become the Republican nominee and eventual Lieutenant Governor. Having endured two terms under Democrat Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor, the Republican controlled Senate was ready for a Republican Presiding Officer. With a Republican Governor and a Republican Speaker already at the table, Cagle’s introduction to the Gold Dome power structure was ripe with challenge. Most notably, Casey Cagle has been a loyal lieutenant governor to Governor Sonny Perdue. On more than one occasion, he has interceded on Governor Perdue’s behalf. Undoubtedly, his hopes are that Governor Perdue’s extraordinary popularity will transfer over to his candidacy.
Although his focus for the remainder of 2008 will be on reelection to the United States Congress, Third District Congressman Lynn Westmoreland is certain to have one eye cast on the 2010 gubernatorial election. Immensely popular among conservatives, Lynn Westmoreland has distinguished himself in Washington, D.C. Having served in the Georgia legislature as the Minority Leader in the Georgia House of Representatives, he is very familiar with state government and the issues involved. And, undoubtedly, he has grown weary of serving in the minority in the United States House of Representatives. Many believe that his statewide base among fiscal and social conservatives will give him a strategic advantage in a Republican primary for statewide office.
Former Secretary of State Cathy Cox has kept her network in place for just this opportunity. There was little doubt that she would return to Georgia politics after suffering a disappointing loss to former Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor in the 2006 Democratic gubernatorial primary. Since then, she joined popular former Governor Zell Miller up in northeast Georgia as the 21st President of Young Harris College. Her name recognition and popularity among Georgia voters remains good.
Former Governor Roy Barnes is itching for a return to politics. Occasional political grandstanding in occasional lawsuits has just not provided the forum or platform for him. The sting of the 2002 loss has tempered and the appetite for politics has returned. With the gubernatorial race wide open, he could decide to mount a comeback to the Georgia political scene.
Current Secretary of State Karen Handel has proved that she can perform at a high level in a Constitutional office. Having been elected as Chairman of the Fulton County Commission, and then as Secretary of State, she can win tough primary and general elections. Like Cathy Cox, Secretary of State Handel has used her position as Chief Elections Officer to reach and touch Georgia voters on a regular basis. As a candidate for governor, she would be formidable.
Finally, Representative Jerry Keen could be a force to be reckoned with. As the Majority Leader of the Georgia House Republican Caucus, he has developed a network of state and local leaders that is noteworthy. No one disputes his record as a steady conservative leader in the Georgia legislature. He has led the fight to cut taxes and imposed fiscal restraint on spending.
The real story is that these are but a few of the many considering a bid to become Georgia’s next governor.