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Perdue ready to pick a side in GOP chairmanship race
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Two well-connected, generally sober people at the state Capitol tell us that Gov. Sonny Perdue has given a quiet blessing to Sue Everhart as the next chairman of the state Republican party.
The governor was out of town at a funeral and couldn’t be reached to confirm. But Perdue and Everhart met in his offices on Wednesday, we’re told.
We’re also hearing that House Speaker Richardson and U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson have lined up behind the long-time Cobb County party activist. Neither have done so publicly.
Isakson’s support wouldn’t surprise us — Everhart is a life-long ally.
With that kind of backing, and if the grassroots approve at a state GOP convention in May, Georgia could have women leading both state party organizations. Democrats elected Jane Kidd of Athens as chairman last month, the better to reach out to suburban women — the swing voters who often determine Georgia elections.
The state GOP has never had a female chairman.
The only other announced candidate in the Republican race is Anthony-Scott Hobbs, the chairman of the Cobb County GOP.
The new chairman of the state Republican party could be immediately faced with a fight to keep the 10th District congressional district, should the ailing U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood of Augusta vacate the seat.
Even though Everhart is a banker, members of the party’s hierarchy had privately questioned her ability to maintain the high cash flow that the party has enjoyed since it came to power in 2002.
Names of other potential candidates have surfaced from time to time, including that of John Watson, the governor’s former chief of staff. But none have come to fruition.
Should the governor indeed get behind Everhart, who launched her candidacy last spring, it may be a recognition of the real politics at the GOP baseline.
For decades, the state Democratic chairman was named by the sitting governor — a system the party has been forced to move away from.
But because it was out of power for so long, the state GOP developed a polished democratic system based on convention delegate selection — a process that begins in the next few weeks.
They can be expensive affairs. The 2001 campaign for GOP chairman between David Shafer and Ralph Reed, both of Gwinnett County, reportedly cost each candidate $100,000. Reed won.
While Perdue has great influence — Alec Poitevint, the current chairman, was his choice immediately following his 2002 election — the governor doesn’t always have total control.
And Perdue might have been faced with the possibility that a candidate he threw into the mix at this late date could be defeated.
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By Al
February 9, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this
Sue will prove to an excellent choice. She is the face the the GOP needs to put in chairman’s seat. God Bless Mr. Hobbs, but this is way outside his league….Hi love affair with his own voice and sense of power has really turned off the GOP insiders.
By Bill Simon
February 9, 2007 12:42 PM | Link to this
Jim Galloway….a slight correction is needed: The race between Shafer and Reed occured in 2001, not 2000.
Our state chairman races occur in odd-numbered years.
By DE
February 9, 2007 02:23 PM | Link to this
Sue will make a great chairman. There are few that work as hard, or as well as Sue does.
By Jim J
February 9, 2007 04:06 PM | Link to this
This is like picking the smartest Neanderthal.
By Sam
February 9, 2007 04:14 PM | Link to this
What astonishes me is that you were able to find “two well-connected generally sober people” in the Capitol. There’s the story - The other story is Governor Perdue better quit campaigning for Vice-President and come back home to take care of business. PS. Whose funeral? Anna Nicole’s?
By allen
February 9, 2007 06:24 PM | Link to this
To Bill Simon, I hope you do not support Sue. Your track record of support is weak, even in the senior citizens weight room of politics. She is a good candidate and does not need the kiss of death that your support seems to always promise in elections.
By Tony
February 9, 2007 06:47 PM | Link to this
Hmmm…did Simon support Ralph Reed? Who won that race? Cagle?