Posted on 08/11/2010 8:19:58 AM PDT by Dacula
Just in from Karen Handel:
I want to thank all of my friends, supporters, volunteers and my campaign team for a tremendous effort over the last 16 months. We ran a terrific campaign, beat the odds to come in first place in the Primary, and came so very close in the runoff election.
As of this morning, we are four tenths of a percentage point behind Nathan Deal with absentee ballots and overseas military votes yet to be counted.
We certainly have the option of requesting the automatic statewide recount. But we are not going to do that.
The best thing for our party is to rally around Congressman Deal as our nominee in the fight against Roy Barnes. Barnes would return Georgia to a past that is best kept in our rearview mirror. We must marshal all of our resources to defeat him.
I spoke with Nathan this morning and let him know that I endorse his candidacy and look forward to the fight against Barnes. I have also called on all who were supporting me to give their same
“There is no law enforcement investigation.”
I wouldn’t bet money on that.
“I voted for Johnson in the primary. But I just couldnt make up my mind about who to pick in the runoff.”
Similar to my situation as well. I was pressed for time after work and was going to have to skip dinner with mrs riverdawg if I wanted to vote by 7 pm. I decided dinner with mrs r was more important than voting for either of these two.
I would. If there was an ongoing investigation Handel would have mentioned it every other sentence.
Eric Johnson, former Georgia GOP gubernatorial candidate, came out with a "unity" robo-call asking Republican voters to come together within the party and unite on Wednesday, a day after the runoff election.
...
The robo-call was met with some criticism from Deal's supporters. Chip Lake, Rep. Lynn Westmoreland's chief of staff, posted on his facebook the following:
"[Lake] is disappointed in a man that I used to have [a lot] of respect for. Instead of holding up his end of a deal Eric Johnson instead decides that he needs to record a robo call calling for unity. I mean really, Eric?? I, and many others that received such a call could have done without the sanctimonious lecture."
The short post implies that there was some kind of an agreement, perhaps between Johnson and Deal, or among the whole Senate and House GOP caucus that did come out en masse, except for just a few members, in support of Deal over former Secretary of State Karen Handel.
In Sunday's gubernatorial debate, Handel said she will rally behind Deal if he wins the runoff election, however, Deal said he would not support Handel if she won.
"It's going to take some time for us to heal the wounds that have been inflicted here," Deal said.
There has been some gossip online that Deal is planning on running as an independent if he loses on Tuesday. In that case, it would be unwise for him to declare his support for Handel in case she wins.
For those interested in the actual truth, below is the Deal investigation report:
OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL ETHICS Review No. 09-1022 SUBJECT: Representative Nathan Deal
http://oce.house.gov/disclosures/Review_No_09-1022_Referral_to_Standards.pdf
This was a win-win situation. I’m glad Deal won, though.
If this state votes in King Roy Barnes again, it will be a huge failure of common sense.
Your views are just plain bizarre.
Internal bickering never strengthens a particular party's candidate, regardless of the 'publicity'.
To say otherwise is just weird.
>>>>As of this morning, we are four tenths of a percentage point behind Nathan Deal with absentee ballots and overseas military votes yet to be counted.
>>Why concede? They may put her over the top?..............
I think it safe to say that conventional wisdom among GA FReepers is that Deal would have handily won the military absentees, since he has former military service and Handel does not.
Now we all have to bury our differences and make sure that King Roy stays in private life where he so deserves to be.
“I would. If there was an ongoing investigation Handel would have mentioned it every other sentence.”
Grand Jury proceedings are sealed until its investigation is complete. The FBI has issued a blanket “no comment” about the matter. The US Attorney said in June that Deal is not “currently” the subject of an ongoing investigation by his office ...
There WERE no Republicans in Hall County when Deal began his career way back when (some time in the 70s, I think. He's been a DA, a judge, and a state senator). But the Democrats up there are old-fashioned conservatives, socially and fiscally. I believe it's the most conservative district in GA.
When Deal switched parties, he did it before the election and gave the Dems the opportunity to defeat him in a fair fight. They couldn't do it.
Handel's career has all been in Atlanta metro and post-dates the country Democrats. But she holds some positions that are antithetical to conservatives on abortion and gay rights (and she lied about the latter until presented with a copy of her check to the Log Cabin Republicans).
Handel is a solid conservative, and she has proven to be a class act who cares more about the GOP winning this November than her personal ambitions. Where do you get off calling her a RINO?
I suppose we all have our preferences, and I have to say if it's gays vs. Democrats, take the gays. They have a much shorter lifespan and due to a variety of AIDS related illnesses, they'll be dropping out of politics sooner than you might imagine. The Democrats have been known to run dead bodies, so they can't be trusted.
Regarding baby killers, none of them are deserving of anybody's votes.
BTW, Deal was in Congress as part of the Democrat Caucus. He voted for a Dem as Speaker and against the Republican.
Say what?
I must respectfully disagree. Handel ran a vicious, negative campaign and trashed her fellow Republicans, whom she refused to debate in the primaries. If she is bowing out gracefully now it is because she wants to run for elected office again and is trying not to burn her last bridge with the state GOP.
FYI - Deal had already said he was resigning long before this report (it was in the news). He changed his mind and stayed on through March so he could vote against Obamacare.
So the “timing thing” everyone is throwing out there is just another trumped up accusation. Just like everything else, accusations and investigations. Yet Handel was caught red handed, with in your face lies to the people of Georgia and folks somehow consider her the more “ethical”.
It amazes me.
I will give her kudos on her concession, though. It’s the only decent thing she’s done since this whole campaign debaucle started.
IIRC, Handel refused to attend GOP primary debates in which a particular candidate, Ray McBerry, participated, because she did not want to be on stage with someone who appears to have had an affair with an underage girl while a schoolteacher and pastor (he has since quit teaching and been defrocked by his church). http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2010/04/29/parents-church-and-judge-told-future-gop-candidate-for-governor-leave-the-girl-alone/ Handel did not have a problem debating the other GOP candidates, and I believe that she did debate them in fora in which the also-ran McBerry wasn’t invited.
But if your characterization is correct, then Handel would be a nasty, mud-slinging *conservative Republican*, not a RINO.
Smart move.
If I understand what Deal did, which was to apparently steer no bid government contracts to his family business, then I dont want him as my governor. Its typical politician behavior....unethical if not illegal. Why do you think he resigned from the House? Besides, anyone who has served as many terms in Washington as he did needs to get out of politics and find honest work. Am I a cynical Georgia resident? You betcha. Will I vote for Deal? Betcha not.
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