Pres '12

Dueling Politicos: Zell Miller Co-Chairing Gingrich Campaign

Eric Kleefeld | May 24, 2011, 1:48PM

Former Sen. Zell Miller (D-GA)

Newt Gingrich's naysayers should be careful about making fun of his policy flip-flops and luxurious personal spending -- they just might get challenged to a duel.

As The Hill reports, Gingrich has announced that former Sen. Zell Miller, the former segregationist Southern Democrat turned progressive turned right-wing conservative, will co-chair his presidential campaign. Also co-chairing is former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, and current Gov. Nathan Deal (who has previously flirted with birtherism, but has since moved on) will head up the campaign in Georgia.

Miller has the interesting distinction of having keynoted the 1992 Democratic convention, delivering a rip-roaring speech against President George H.W. Bush. Then 12 years later, he keynoted the 2004 Republican convention, delivering a rip-roaring speech for President George W. Bush, and slamming Democratic nominee John Kerry (a man he had previously praised as an American hero) and the whole Democratic Party.

Memorably, when questioned about these inconsistencies by Chris Matthews, Miller gave such replies as "Get out of my face," and, "I wish we lived in the day where you could challenge a person to a duel."

Since then, he has consistently endorsed Republican candidates, and railed against liberals.

Birther

Georgia Governor Who Asked For Obama's Birth Certificate Now 'Focused On Creating Jobs'

Ryan J. Reilly | April 27, 2011, 5:07PM

Gov. Nathan Deal (R-GA)

Republican Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, who wrote a letter to President Barack Obama demanding to see his long-form birth certificate, isn't focused on the "birther" issue these days, according to a spokeswoman.

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Birther

Among Birther Friendly Lawmakers, Mostly Radio Silence

Benjy Sarlin | April 27, 2011, 1:39PM

President Barack Obama's long form birth certificate.

President Obama's decision to release his long form birth certificate comes amid Donald Trump's three-ring circus on the issue, but prominent conservatives have flirted with the birther movement since its earliest inception. From insisting Obama release more records, to waffling on questions about his citizenship, to sponsoring legislation winking at conspiracy theorists, there's been no shortage of birther curious behavior over the last several years.

TPM reached out to over 20 lawmakers and public figures who have indulged in such behavior to determine whether Obama's release of the Rosetta stone of birtherism has settled the issue, receiving few responses.

TPM SLIDESHOW: There's The Birth Certificate: TPM's Best Of The Birthers

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GA-GOV

Poll: Dem Barnes Tied With GOPer Deal In GA-GOV Race

Marc Kilstein | September 17, 2010, 3:38PM

GA Gov. candidates Nathan Deal (R) and Roy Barnes (D)

A new InsiderAdvtange poll shows former Dem Gov. Roy Barnes running even with former Republican Rep. Nathan Deal in the Georgia gubernatorial race.

The latest numbers have Barnes and Deal deadlocked, 42%-42%, with Libertarian candidate John Monds polling at 5%. When InsiderAdvtange polled the race in mid-August, Deal held a four-point lead on Barnes, 45%-41%. A SurveyUSA poll from September 12 produced a very different result, giving the Republican a 49%-38% advantage.

The TPM Poll Average shows Deal on top of Barnes and Monds, 45.3%-40.3%-6.3%.

For more on the race, check out TPMDC's full coverage here.

GA-GOV

Poll: GOPer Deal Leads Dem Barnes By 4 In GA-GOV Race

Marc Kilstein | August 20, 2010, 10:01AM

GA Gov. candidates Nathan Deal (R) and Roy Barnes (D)

A new InsiderAdvantage poll finds former Republican Rep. Nathan Deal four points ahead of former Dem Gov. Roy Barnes in the Georgia gubernatorial race.

The latest numbers, which are InsiderAdvantage's first results for the Deal-Barnes matchup, show Deal on top 45%-41%. Libertarian candidate John Monds polls at 5% in the survey. Last week, a Rasmussen poll released right after Deal's narrow victory in the Republican primary runoff showed a larger nine-point advantage for the Republican nominee. That poll did not include a specific third-party candidate.

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GA-GOV

Rasmussen Poll: Deal Leads Barnes By 9 Points In GA-GOV Race

Eric Kleefeld | August 13, 2010, 2:39PM

GA Gov. candidates Nathan Deal (R) and Roy Barnes (D)

The new Rasmussen poll of the Georgia gubernatorial race gives Republican former Congressman Nathan Deal, who just won his primary runoff by a narrow margin this week, the lead over Democratic former Gov. Roy Barnes.

The numbers: Deal 51%, Barnes 42%. The survey of likely voters has a ±3% margin of error. In the previous Rasmussen poll from three weeks ago, conducted while Deal was fighting out the Republican runoff with Karen Handel, Deal led Barnes by 49%-43%. The TPM Poll Average gives Deal a lead of 50.6%-42.6%.

From the pollster's analysis: "Republicans seem to have come together quickly following Deal's 50.2% to 49.8% runoff win this week over Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel, who quickly endorsed the victor. Deal earns 92% support from Republicans in the state. Eighty-eight percent (88%) of Georgia Democrats back Barnes. Voters not affiliated with either major party prefer the Republican by a 56% to 33% margin."

GA-GOV

Karen Handel Concedes To Nathan Deal In GA-Gov

Evan McMorris-Santoro | August 11, 2010, 11:15AM

GA GOV Republican candidates Nathan Deal and Karen Handel

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel has conceded the Republican gubernatorial nomination to former Rep. Nathan Deal.

At last count, Deal was up by less than 2,500 votes in the runoff primary, triggering speculation that a long recount process was coming. Now Deal can avoid that process and shift gears to taking on the Democratic nominee, former Gov. Roy Barnes.

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GA-GOV

Handel Staying Silent While Votes Are Tallied In GOP's Too-Close-To-Call GA-Gov Runoff

Evan McMorris-Santoro | August 11, 2010, 10:55AM

Georgia Republican gubernatorial nominee Karen Handel

The mama grizzly has lost her roar. As the final votes are counted in the Georgia Republican gubernatorial runoff, Karen Handel is -- so far -- keeping quiet. Her opponent in the contest, former Rep. Nathan Deal, is not.

That's probably because Deal has the miniscule lead heading into the second day of counting in Georgia. The Secretary Of State's website shows Deal ahead by less than 2,500 votes with 99% of precincts reporting. With that (slight) wind at his back, Deal was ready to take to the airwaves in Georgia as the frontrunner.

"Well, obviously we're pleased it appears we have a slim margin," Deal told Georgia Public Radio. "We just wait to have that finalized and hopefully the numbers are going to hold."

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GA-GOV

Georgia's GOP Gov Race Too Close To Call With 99% Precincts Reporting

Thomas Rhiel | August 10, 2010, 11:29PM

GA GOV Republican candidates Nathan Deal and Karen Handel

The results are almost all in from Georgia's GOP gubernatorial runoff election -- and it's still too close to call.

With 99% of precincts reporting tonight, Ex-Rep. Nathan Deal leads Karen Handel 50.2%-49.8% -- a difference of just about 2,500 votes out of nearly 600,000 ballots counted so far.

The Associated Press has reportedly announced that it will not call the race tonight, as it remains too close to call.

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GA-GOV

Last-Minute Poll: Deal Pulls Even With Handel In GOP GA-GOV Runoff

Thomas Rhiel | August 10, 2010, 10:28AM

GA GOV Republican candidates Nathan Deal and Karen Handel

Nathan Deal has pulled out in front of Karen Handel in today's GOP gubernatorial runoff in Georgia, a last-minute Landmark survey (PDF) finds. The poll shows Deal edging Handel 43.7%-41.9%, a lead that fall's within the poll's 3.9-point margin of error.

Landmark's last poll of the race, from August 1, showed Handel in the lead, 45.8%-37.1%.

Handel seems to have the wind at her back going into today's runoff election -- she won more votes in July's primary and boasts an endorsement from Sarah Palin. Landmark's new numbers, though, may give Deal supporters a reason to be hopeful as they await tonight's results.

The TPM Poll Average gives Handel a slim 43.7%-41.6% lead. Check out TPMDC's full coverage of the race here.

GA-GOV

A Peach Of A Primary: Georgia Holds GOP Gov Runoff Today

Evan McMorris-Santoro | August 10, 2010, 8:39AM

GA GOV Republican candidates Nathan Deal and Karen Handel

Today's thought experiment: who wins in a race between a Republican with Sarah Palin's endorsement and one who's birther-friendly and dared the federal government to stop him from deporting illegal immigrants?

Today, Republicans in the Peach State go to the polls to make their choice in the GOP runoff. The race pits former Secretary of State Karen Handel (the aforementioned Mama Grizzly) against former Rep. Nathan Deal (the one who just wanted to get to the bottom of the whole Obama birth certificate thing.) Who will win is anybody's guess -- the latest polls show the race as an absolute dead heat. Yesterday's Mason-Dixon poll showed Handel leading by five.

Indeed, the advantage likely goes to Handel, the woman who won the most votes in Georgia's July primary and stumped with Palin just yesterday.

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GA-GOV

Mason-Dixon Poll: Handel Leads Deal By 5 Heading Into GOP's GA-GOV Runoff

Marc Kilstein | August 9, 2010, 1:15PM

GA GOV Republican candidates Nathan Deal and Karen Handel

The Georgia Republican gubernatorial runoff is a day away, and new Mason-Dixon polling numbers echo other recent polls' findings -- this race remains far from decided. The latest survey shows respondents favoring former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel over former Rep. Nathan Deal, with a slight 47%-42% advantage.

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GA-GOV

Poll: GOPers Deal And Handel In Dead Heat For GA-GOV Runoff

Marc Kilstein | August 6, 2010, 5:44PM

GA GOV Republican candidates Nathan Deal and Karen Handel

A new InsiderAdvantage poll of the Georgia Republican gubernatorial runoff shows a statistical tie between former Rep. Nathan Deal and former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel, 46%-46%.

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GA-GOV

Handel And Deal Advance To GOP Runoff In Georgia Gubernatorial Race

Eric Kleefeld | July 20, 2010, 11:13PM

GA GOV Republican candidates Nathan Deal and Karen Handel

The first round of the Georgia Republican gubernatorial primary is over, with former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel and ex-Congressman Nathan Deal now advancing to the runoff on August 10, the Associated Press has projected, with the ultimate winner to face Democratic former Gov. Roy Barnes.

With 72% of precincts reporting, Handel has 34% to Deal's 23%, followed by former state Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson at 20% and state Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine with 17%. Handel, who resigned her post in order to focus on her gubernatorial bid, began this race at the back of the pack, but in recent weeks and months has moved to the top -- and she recently joined the ranks of the "Mama Grizzlies," female GOP candidates endorsed by Sarah Palin. Deal, who also resigned from the House earlier this year in order to pursue his gubernatorial bid full-time, has also dabbled in birtherism. So this should be a fun runoff.

On the Democratic side, former Gov. Roy Barnes easily won the nomination with 66% of the vote in the current count, with his closest opponent, state Attorney General Thurbert Baker, at 22%. Barnes lost re-election in 2002 in a huge upset against Republican Sonny Perdue, partially as a result of Barnes having shrunk the size of Confederate imagery in the state flag. As part of his comeback bid this year, Barnes had a fun ad earlier this summer suggesting that America was "laughing at us" in Georgia, over proposed state legislation dealing with such topics as microchips in people's brains, and on secession from the United States.

GA-GOV

Today's Georgia Gov Primary Pits Palin-Backed Mama Grizzly Against Birther-Curious Ex-Rep

Eric Kleefeld | July 20, 2010, 8:50AM

GA GOV Republican candidates Nathan Deal and Karen Handel

Voters are headed to the polls today in Georgia, for the first round of the Republican primary for governor, to succeed term-limited GOP Gov. Sonny Perdue. No candidate is expected to reach the 50% needed to avoid a runoff -- but there has been some last-minute momentum for former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel, who is endorsed by none other than Sarah Palin, and who could end up coming in a strong first place.

The most recent polls from Magellan Strategies, Mason-Dixon, Insider Advantage and Rasmussen all have Handel on top, with her support ranging from the mid-20s to the high 30s (though the latter could possibly be an outlier).

Handel has tacked noticeably right in this race, going from supporting domestic partnerships and even once joining the pro-gay rights Log Cabin Republicans to now favoring a ban on gay adoption. Handel could potentially also have been boosted a bit when she received Palin's endorsement.

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Birther

Know Your Republican Birthers: Which Pols Have Dipped A Toe In The Birther Pool?

Jillian Rayfield | July 19, 2010, 8:37AM

For as long as there have been birthers, there have been politicians jumping on the birther bandwagon. And for as long as there have been politicians jumping on the birther bandwagon, there have been politicians who casually lean up against the birther bandwagon but run away before anyone sees them.

Here's TPM's roundup of politicians who have proven to be, for lack of a better term, birther-curious, before having to back things up a bit...

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GA-GOV

Rasmussen Poll: Deal And Handel In Close GOP Primary For Georgia Governor

Eric Kleefeld | July 15, 2010, 10:53AM

GA GOV Republican candidates Nathan Deal and Karen Handel

The new Rasmussen poll of the Georgia Republican gubernatorial primary shows a close race going into this Tuesday's first-round primary, which is likely headed to a runoff in August.

The numbers: Former Rep. Nathan Deal 25%, former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel 25%, state Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine 20%, and former state Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson 13%. The survey of likely voters has a ±3% margin of error. In the previous Rasmussen poll, from all the way back in December 2009, Oxendine had 28%, Handel 14%, Deal 13%, and Johnson 2%.

A runoff between Deal and Handel should be interesting -- Deal has demanded to see President Obama's birth certificate, and Handel has been endorsed by Sarah Palin.

Health Care

Raw Deal: What Were Dems Thinking When They Let Neil Abercrombie Retire?

Brian Beutler | March 12, 2010, 3:00PM

Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI)

It all comes down to votes now. Assuming total opposition on the part of the GOP, President Obama can only enact comprehensive health care reform if 216 Democrats vote for the legislation. That will require pleading, promises, and arm-twisting, and it will also mean Democrats can't afford to lose any more yes votes between now and the end of next week.

But they already let one slip away.

Neil Abercrombie resigned at the end of February to pursue the governorship of Hawaii, and took with him an assured "yes" vote on health care reform.

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Nathan Deal

GOP Rep. Deal, Candidate For Georgia Governor, Asking For Obama's Birth Certificate

Eric Kleefeld | November 5, 2009, 11:09AM

Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA)

Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA), a candidate in the GOP primary for Governor of Georgia, has announced that he is signing a letter to the White House with several of his colleagues -- asking for a copy of President Obama's birth certificate.

Deal made the announcement this morning in an online chat held by his campaign, when asked by Tom Crawford of the Georgia Report (subscription required):

[Comment From Tom Crawford]
Do you believe that Barack Obama is a native-born American citizen who is eligible to serve as president? I am asking because your comments on this issue have been a little ambiguous. I would appreciate your clearing this up.

Nathan Deal - I am joining several of my colleagues in the House in writing a letter to the President asking that he release a copy of his birth certificate so we can have an answer to this question.

Deal's campaign spokesman Harris Blackwood confirmed the authenticity of the chat to TPM, explaining the Congressman's comment: "There have been so many constituents, a lot of people have asked him, they ask him on the campaign trail. Let's just get an answer, that's all we're saying, not suggesting anything to the contrary."