Kingston sports shiner [one eye on Senate seat]

The Hill ^ | April 9, 2003 | Bill Thomas

[JohnnyZ]

… Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) is sporting a shiner he got in a Savannah batting cage two weekends ago, pitching to a hard-hitting friend. “My left eye is kind of banged up, yellow and repulsive,” Kingston said, adding he still has his right one on a possible Senate run when Sen. Zell Miller (D-Ga.) retires.

[JohnnyZ]

One of two hints in The Hill today that Jack Kingston and other good guys are still drawing a bead on Zell Miller's seat. We've been worried about RINO Johnny Isakson being the only candidate in the field.

The other mention in The Hill: "[Sen. George] Allen said he wants to spend time focusing on recruiting top-tier candidates in battleground states represented by Democrats, including the retiring Zell Miller in Georgia."

http://www.thehill.com/news/040903/nrsc.aspx

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[LdSentinal]

Well, he better announce soon. Every passing second, Isakson gets more dinero into his warchest. He has over $2 million and by the end of this summer, he will probably have close to $4 million. By that time, Kingston might be scared off by such a impressive amount.

[JohnnyZ]

Kingston has 600+k left over in his House account. Plus, he'd have the conservative interest groups lining up behind him, although I'm not sure what McCain-Feingold says about that. Plus, people will actually vote for him. When polling starts, Isakson ends.

[JohnnyZ]

And . . . I doubt Isakson will have $4 million by this summer. He had $1 million going in, raised $1 million in "low-hanging fruit", as they say, as the first and only announced candidate, but doesn't have a broad base to get another TWO MILLION in the next 3-6 months! I would guess that most folks are waiting until the field shapes up before contributing, and when the field shapes up Isakson won't be looking pretty.

I'm not too worried about him being the GOP nominee.

[madprof98]

Unfortunately, Isakson seems to have the media sewed up. Part of the problem is that the media here are not really locally controlled. The so-called "Neighbor" newspapers, for example, seem to come from a neighborhood in New York City. They pretend to uphold conservative values, but their editorials celebrate the standard liberal Big Tent crap.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Then you have more faith than a lot of us. All Isakson needs is a few good Conservatives to split the vote in the primary and hand the nomination to him. If Kingston is going to make the jump "officially", he'd better do it now.

[Kuksool]

The plot in the GA Senate race thickens. Isakson has the endorsement of Bob Barr. I expect Barr & Isakson to heavily campaign together around the state to cement the conservative vote for the GOP primary and general election. How much weight does a Bob Barr endorsement carry? We shall find out in July 2004.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Jeez, what the hell has gotten into Bob Barr ? Has that boy gotten smacked upside the head with a baseball bat ?

[Kuksool]

Bob Barr cares about his political well-being more than anything. Last year, he chickened out of a rematch with Roger Kahn. Instead he sought to claim John Linder's district for himself. The voters of the GA-07 rightfully told Barr to get lost. Now Barr has bought a home in the GA-06. Isakson has endorsed Barr to replace him in the GA-06.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Well, again, there's nothing wrong with looking out for one's own political well-being... but it's just HOW you do it. Barr moved out of his 'Rat gerrymandered district because he sincerely believed he would be defeated in it (and he may very well have been right, it's better that he was succeeded by less controversial Phil Gingrey). In this instance, it's obvious that Barr is NOT looking out for the interests of GA by endorsing the too-liberal Isakson and then utilizing his endorsement to prove "see, I get moderate (sic) support !" The question is whether or not there is anyone in that district that isn't a Isakson borderline RINO that can defeat Barr ?

[JohnnyZ]

I think I erred about Isakson fundraising. I think he has actually RAISED $2 million, so he has $3 million total. So approaching $4 million wouldn't be inconceivable.

Still, I don't think Georgia Republicans, especially primary voters, want to vote for him.

One thing about him squeaking in if conservatives split between multiple candidates: Georgia has a runoff system so you need 50% in the primary to get the nod.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Those fundraising totals make it even more difficult to see him losing the nomination. He may still manage to persuade 51% of the primary voters outright. After all, he did win a statewide primary race for Governor before.