Barnes Leads in New Insider Advantage Poll. And it Maybe Time for Porter & Camon To Do Some Soul Searching

A new Insider Advantage Poll shows Roy Barnes with a big lead over the other announced democratic challengers.

Roy Barnes (D-Mableton) 47%

Thurbert Baker (D-Stone Mountain) 18%

David Poythress (D-Norcross) 6%

DuBose Porter (D-Dublin) 5%

Undecided/No Opinion 24%

Carl Camon wasn't polled in the new survey.

Analysis from InsiderAdvantage CEO Matt Towery:

“Roy Barnes continues to enjoy his strong name ID among voters. He could easily win the primary race without a runoff. But there are two flies in the ointment for Barnes. First, the greatest share of African-American support that he is now the beneficiary of could shift if Thurbert Baker [an African-American] were to have a significant presence on TV.

Second, right now it appears that enthusiasm among voters for the Democratic primary will be much lower than for the Republican primary. This could make the Democratic race much more difficult to win without a runoff.”

The way things looks now it will be a three-man race between Barnes, Baker & Poythress. As for Porter (DuBose), the longer the legislative session drag on, the more it will hurt him in getting out to meet voters & raise money for his campaign.

So someone has to ask the question here: What will Porter do? Do he stay in the race for governor risking defeat & being out of the Georgia Political Arena? Or does he look elsewhere for another race such as Agriculture Commissioner, where there is no democrat running at this moment, State School Superintendent where education is the main piece of his platform. Forget about the U.S Senate, as he has no interest in running for the senate against his friend Johnny Isakson. I like Porter, but it maybe time for him to consider his options.

Carl Camon raised a little over $4,000 & has $104 on hand. I'm a big fan of Carl's & thinks he has the broadest platform of all of the candidates for governor. He's appealing & he brings a new voice to the democratic party, but it maybe time for him to look elsewhere as well like State School Superintendent which fits his background as a educator perfectly. Having him in that race would make him the favorite to win the nomination for State School Superintendent as a result of his name I.D. among rank & file democrats, or he could run for Jay Shaw's HD 176 seat which is being vacated by Shaw as he will move on to the GDOT Board for the 1st Congressional District. Shaw's son Jason Shaw has annouced he will run for his father's seat in november, most likely as a independent & then probably as a republican in 2012. Camon is very familiar with that district & if he decided to run for that seat, he would be the odds-on favorite to win the seat, despite Jason Shaw being in the race. Or he could run for the State Senate against Greg Goggins (R-Douglas).

The less candidates the democrats have, the better it will be for them in november. Democrats need to preserve money & not get caught up in a runoff that would take up money needed to run a general election campaign against the republicans. The same goes for all other statewide races as well

Meet the Candidates (Democratic) at Fort Valley State University on Saturday.

I attended the Meet the Candidates event at Fort Valley State on saturday. I missed the earlier parts of the event due to scheduling conflicts. I arrived 30 to 40 minutes late to the event, but caught the governor's Q&A session toward the end & some of the secretary of state candidates Q&A session.The crowd at the C.T. Pettigrew center wasn't large, but there was some great questions that were asked by the audience, in particular one that concerned one woman & that was mental healthcare in Georgia's jails. Mental health is a issue that often gets ignored. All of the candidates did well answering the questions. I noticed Thurbert Baker & Roy Barnes sat next to each other, basically shoulder to shoulder having quiet conversations & laughing among themselves while the other candiates were answering questions from the crowd. Carl Camon sat in the middle, while DuBose Porter & David Poythress sat on the other end.

But outside in the lobby, I talked to Dubose Porter, who talked about public safety & economic development for rural georgia. I told him that I received a pack of bumper stickers in the mail from his campaign. He had to do another interview with a reporter from Ft. Valley State, so we had to cut the conversation short. I hope to talk to hm again soon. He's a very nice guy, very likable. His website is http://www.dubosepoter.com/

Next I met Gen. David Poythress & his wife Elizabeth. Both was very nice. I talked to Mrs. Poythress, while the General had to do a interview. Me & Mrs. Poythress talked about their travels across rural georgia. We talked about the crime rate that is increasing across the state. She told me about a stop they made in Clinch County at a store in which the store owner was carrying a concealed weapon on him in fear of being robbed. That was one of many things we talked about. She was very engaging & knew the issues. Gen. Poythress is lucky to have a woman like her by his side. After that I caught up with the general & we talked for about 20 minutes. We talked about his travels across the state, etc. He tells me that he has received contributions from all of Georgia's 159 counties, which is impressive. I told him that he has gone to places a democrat normally will never go to here in rural georgia, in which we both laughed about. We talked about jobs, education, which are dismal in some places here in rural georgia. He's not flashy, but he has alot of substance behind his message. This man has done it all & would be a fine candidate for the democrats in the general election. He & his wife elizabeth had to leave, but I enjoyed meeting them both & hope to see them again in the near future. His website is http://www.pouthressforgovernor.com/

Next I met Carl Camon & his campaign manager Jamieson Brewer & his lovely wife. Me & Carl talked for about 30 minutes. He was very impressive in person. He has gone largely unnoticed by the media, but not on peanut politics. He has traveled to places like Cartersville to Colquitt. We talked about alot of things from families to education to job creation. He's a young guy (40 yrs old) & brings a new vibrance, a new voice to the democratic party. His message is being well received by the people. I consider him the darkhorse candidate in the governor's race, so get ready to see Mayor Camon at a city near you as his campaign is about to kick into high gear. He not one of those candidates that has alot of sizzle to him, just alot of steak & that will appeal with voters, especially small town voters. He has the qualificaions to lead this state to new heights. And I want to say good luck to his campaign manager Jameson Brewer as he is about to embark on a run for elected office for the city council or mayor of Grayson, Ga. Just by talking to Mr. Brewer, I think he will do very well in november. I hope to see both of these fine gentlemen soon on the campaign trail. His website is http://www.camonforgovernor.com/

I did not get to talk to Thurbery Baker & Roy Barnes. They both haul-ass toward the exits, but that's okay, it was great talking to Dubose, David, & Carl about their campaigns & the issues. These are three very fine gentlemen, so llok for them at a city near you.

And I met Gary Horlacher, candidate for Secretary of State. He announced at the Georgia Association of County Commissioners event that he is about to go to campaign in all of Georgia's 159 counties in his quest to become Georgia's next secretary of state. He has been involved in state government for over 30 years & managed campaigns for Labor Commissioner & Lt. Governor. He is clearly the most qualified candidate for secretary of state, moreso that Karn Handel, who rode Perdue's coattails to that post in 2006. His website is http://www.garyforsecretary.com/

Tried to get a word with Gail Buckner, but she was walking so fast, I just let her go. Tried to talk to Darryl Hicks in the lobby, but he was busy joking around with old buddies of his so he & Gail Buckner lost my vote. I did not see Michael Mills outside. He was there at the event, so he probably had another engagement to attend.

I also met State Rep. Tyrone Brooks (D-Atlanta), former State Senator & mayor Floyd Griffin (D-Milledgeville), who I had a brief conversation with when I arrived at the event. He was promoting his new book, which I wanted to buy, but he left before the event was over. But he showed me where the candidates were. It was my first time at the pettigrew center, so I didn't know where to go. Also met State Rep Randall Mangham (D-Decatur). I missed the State School Superintendent candidates at the event. And Candidate for Labor Commissioner Melvin Emerson was there as well, but had to go to a event up in Dekalb Co. he told the room after the governor's session was over. He probably went down to Sonny Perdue Fish Fry in Perry.

All of the candidates were great. I got a better feel for these guys & it solidified my position on who I think is the best candidate for the general election. David Poythress, Carl Camon , DuBose Porter are my top three. Period.

David Poythress Treks across Rural Middle & South Georgia.

David Poythress along with his lovely wife was in Valdosta last night at the annual Lowndes Co. Democratic BBQ. More than 100+ people showed up to listen to Gen. Poythress ideas for a better Georgia.

Also Gen. Poythress made stops in Quitman Co, Bainbridge, Grady Co. , Buena Vista, visited with volunteer firefighters in Alamo (Wheeler Co) , spoke at Providence Baptist Church in Thomasville , made stop in Fitzgerald (Ben Hill Co), made a stop in Iron City (Telfair Co.) & Cusetta ( Chattahoochee Co.) Webster Co. & other towns in South Georgia.

They may not seem like much to someone living in a bigger city, but these trips are vital for any democrat to win the governorship in 2010 & Gen. Poythress knows that. Democrats just cannot focus their eforts just toi the cities & surburbs. They must win back small town Georgia because if they don't, it will be a long road for them to even remain viable in this state. Gen. Poythress knows that & that's why he is going the extra mile & going to these places often ignored by politicians running for office.

Poythress calls for Barnes to get out of gubernatorial race.

David Poythress is calling Roy Barnes to get out of the governor's race for the sake of the party.

Here are some of his reasons:

- Instead of helping re-build the Democratic Party so it was prepared for victory after he lost to Sonny Perdue, Roy sat silent.

- Instead stepping in to stop the Mark Taylor v. Cathy Cox bloodbath in 2006, Roy sat silent.

Now the Cathy Cox-Mark Taylor duel could have been avoided. Cox in my opinion should have stayed at Secretary of State & then run for governor in 2010, therefore leaving Mark Taylor by himself. I don't know how much influence Roy could have had on that race.

Had Roy not changed the State Flag, he would have been re-elected governor in 2002. The teacher's union was a key reason why Barnes lost, but once Roy changed the flag which made a lot of rural white voters mad as hell & then the 9/11 attacks, there was no way he could have won 9 years ago. I don't know if the rural folks that supported the flag have gotten over that episode, but that remaons to be seen once barnes comes to rural Georgia to try to win their votes again.

Now Poythress is right that there are a lot of dems who do not want Roy to run. Even down here in Macon County, folks who voted for barnes are luke warm to his return. Black voters, which accout for 60% of the county's population really like Poythress & Porter, but not that with Barnes.

Poythress, I predict will surprise some folks when his fundraising numbers come out next week.

Poythress addresses Carroll Democrats

Speaking to an audience at the Carroll County Democratic Party’s annual spring picnic on Saturday, Democratic candidate for governor David Poythress said the ultimate healing of the Georgia economy will stem from reform in education, transportation and water.

“All over Georgia and all over the United States of America people are wondering where is next month’s mortgage payment coming from ... what about kids and what about the car and what about health insurance,” Poythress said. “My job will be to reposition Georgia so that we can, as the economy begins to turn, take advantage of that and we can become as prosperous as we were under Democratic leadership in the past.”

To make such a repositioning possible, he said, the state needs to develop a plan to address future water shortages, implement a more accessible statewide transportation system and ensure that students across the state have access to modern technology in the classroom.

Poythress said the state has done a good job allocating funds from the Georgia lottery for early education and the HOPE Scholarship but has failed to use lottery funds to successfully establish a system of education that is rooted in technology. Should he win the governor’s office, Poythress said it would be the “number one priority” of his administration to ensure that every child has access to computers and other avenues of technological learning on a day-to-day basis and beginning at a young age.

In the past, he said, the state’s educational woes have been incorrectly attributed to teachers when the real problem has been that students simply don’t have access to the kind of technology that will propel their education into the 21st century.

“Teachers are not the problem. Teachers are part of the solution,” he said. “Kids grow up today in the electronic world. It’s the world we live in all day, every day. It seems to me that technology pervades all our lives. Why should we not have the latest and greatest and best technology in the classroom where we’re teaching our children to be globally competitive from the standpoint of jobs and to be good citizens of the democracy?”

Poythress was born and raised in Macon, where his father worked for the city water department and his mother was a school teacher. He served four years on active duty in the U.S. Air Force as a judge advocate officer, and he volunteered for duty in Vietnam, serving one year as defense counsel and Chief of Military Justice at DaNang Air Base in country. On the state level, Poythress has served as assistant attorney general, deputy state revenue commissioner and secretary of state.

He is one of four Democrats currently in the race for the governorship, with the primary to be in July of next year. The general election will be in November of 2010.

Rural voters may sway race for governor

What I have been saying all along. The candidate most likely to be elected governor next year is the one who can carry rural Georgia.

Odds favor the Republican. No surprise. Georgia is a red state.

Barack Obama made it close. Excluding Jimmy Carter who carried Georgia twice, Obama got a higher percentage here (47 percent) than any other Democratic presidential candidate has since 1964.

It’s inconceivable that any other candidate could come close to repeating the Obama effect. A Democrat who can’t turn out a phenomenal percentage of the black vote in the general election probably shouldn’t plunk down the qualifying fee to run for one of the top two statewide offices on the ballot in 2010, governor and U.S. senator. And yet one who runs too far left to get it is dog food in the general election in November.

Latest of the Democrats to announce are Attorney General Thurbert Baker and House Minority Leader DuBose Porter, a lawyer and newspaper editor.

Baker’s entry seriously complicates life for the three moderate whites who’ve announced or are being urged to announce, including Porter, former Adjutant General David Poythress and former Gov. Roy Barnes.

Blacks, who are likely to be energized by the prospect of following Obama’s success with the election of a black governor, are 30 percent of the registered voters and half of the Democratic primary base. In 2006, Baker got more votes than any other Democrat running statewide and more, even, than two Republicans who’ll be vying for governor, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and Secretary of State Karen Handel. Only Gov. Sonny Perdue, School Superintendent Kathy Cox and Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, another Republican gubernatorial candidate, got more votes.

Baker’s a moderate who’s generally well liked. Assuming he’s able to resist the pressure that’s always on Democrats to veer left, he could emerge from the primary as a strong contender in November. The Democratic base is probably 41-43 percent. Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor got 38 percent against Perdue in 2006. Without Obama’s coattails, Jim Martin got 43 percent in a runoff last December against U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss.

Porter, Poythress and Barnes all have their strengths, too. Porter, as minority leader, has made the House Democratic caucus a more cohesive, focused group whose members are less likely to rush before TV cameras to blurt out rants. By the traditional gauge of candidate likability, the fishing standard, Porter will wear well. The “fishing standard” is “which of the people running would you actually like to take fishing?”

Barnes has the experience, the contacts and the ability to raise money, all important. Poythress has been adjutant general, secretary of state and commissioner of labor and was well-regarded in all.

Had Democrats been able to hold on to rural Georgia, they’d now be in control statewide. The 28-county metro area, which represented 57 percent of the vote last November, is trending Democratic. Obama won the region, 51-48, largely because he won Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton by almost 400,000 votes. Outside metro Atlanta, John McCain prevailed with 58 percent.

Any successful Democrat needs to be center-right in rural Georgia and capable of turning out a huge black vote in metro Atlanta. Liberal activists, including those in the General Assembly and in the pure, hard-core Democratic areas like DeKalb and Clayton, are trouble for their candidates. If they cut them some slack through the primary, their November chances improve considerably. Known liberals lose Georgia. Get them firmly on record as supporting the Obama agenda, for example, and they’re toast.

Republican gubernatorial candidates also need to be center-right in rural Georgia. It prefers Chamber of Commerce types who’ll not lunge sharply left or right. Sonny Perdue. Joe Frank Harris. George Busbee. Solid, dependable, predictable. No sudden moves. Gradualism. They carried Georgia for McCain, just as they put Perdue in the governor’s mansion in 2002.

While the bulk of the vote is in metro Atlanta and it is trending Democratic, it’s still pretty evenly split. It’s the rest of Georgia that picks winners.

Democratic Candidate David Poythress on Farmers, transportation.

I’ve been reaching out to our state’s lifeblood, our agriculture community. Several farmers have shared their concerns with me regarding the new Secretary of Labor’s proposed suspension of the H2A regulations. As you may know, our growers have many regulatory hoops to jump each season. They put together their budgets and plans for the year in anticipation of the rules which went into effect on January 17th. In mid-March, the Secretary of Labor created much uncertainty by moving to suspend the new rules. I have written a formal request urging the US Department of Labor to reconsider this action that will have a serious and adverse effect on our farming community and our state’s economy. It’s not fair to our growers or their workers to change the rules in the middle of the season. Click here to read my full statement.

After weeks of deliberation, debate and political skirmishes, I think the politicians at the Capitol owe us some leadership on transportation in the final week of the Legislative Session. But with the final days upon us, it’s tough not to feel like we are stuck between Governor Sonny Perdue’s power grab and the Legislature’s inability to act. This is unacceptable, and both sides shoulder the blame.



Governor Perdue’s Transportation Plan will gut the Department of Transportation and make every transportation project a political pawn of the Legislature. This is an open invitation to political favoritism and corruption. The Legislature has floated a compromise plan that does not sufficiently address our critical transportation needs and relies on a sales tax that will be available only after a statewide referendum in November of next year. Their best case scenario keeps us waiting until 2011 for results.

If I were Governor, this is what I would do on transportation:

1. Direct the Board of Transportation to dust off every transportation study on the shelf and call for a “Transportation Summit” to prioritize these projects using planning guidelines, not political influence.

2. Sign an Executive Order that authorizes and encourages tele-working and “flex time” commuting for all state workers that will alleviate the number of cars on the road during the busiest drive times.

3. Develop a long range plan to relocate state agencies that no longer need to be in downtown Atlanta.

4. Direct the Board of Transportation to create new routes for 18-wheeler trucks that will direct that traffic away from our metro areas to ease traffic congestion.

5. Direct the Board of Transportation to identify the top 100 traffic congested intersections and surface streets so we can begin re-engineering them to reduce congestion in those areas.

6. Do everything necessary to expand the Port of Savannah in a way that will attract more shipments and create jobs.

7. Sign an Executive Order protecting the 13 member Board of Transportation that represents different regions of the state.

I'm going to tell you right now, Mr. Poythress is starting to grow on me. I really like this guy.

David Poythress candidate for governor in 2010.

David Poythress, candidate for govenor was on What's Goin' On radio show with Wilson R. Smith of Vidalia back in January & I just got finished listening to his interview, which was a good one & he said something that is really important to me: he realizes that there are democrats all over the state of Georgia, not just in Metro Atlanta, ( he was referring to former gov. Roy Barnes possible comeback for governor in 2010). That is going to be the issue for whoever wins the nomination.

Now I have not endorsed anyone for governor yet, but Poythress seems to have it down that democrats need to get back to places like Vidalia, Ft. Oglethorpe, Hinesville, Americus to fight for those votes that have been taken for granted by the republicans.

In this interview, David Poythress explains why the people of Georgia should consider the conservative leadership of a Georgia Democrat. David is not a new comer to Georgia politics. He has held various state positions, including stints as Assistant Attorney General, Deputy Revenue Commissioner and Secretary of State. In 1992 he campaigned in his first statewide race and was elected State Labor Commissioner. Although he was re-elected to the position in 1994, he ultimately resigned to run for Governor in 1998. Roy Barnes was the successful candidate in that race.

As for the Democrats, they have failed to aggressively take the Republicans to task for their policies. David hopes to change that and give the people of Georgia a clear choice in leadership in 2010.

Poythress on Barnes: ‘He’s not as connected to the grassroots as he used to be’

David Poythress, the only Democratic candidate for governor out in the hustings at this moment, put out a note this morning evincing some frustration with Roy Barnes.

Last week, in this space, the former governor again expressed a certain coyness about the 2010 race.

“I keep hoping that there will be some knight in shining armor. 
I don’t want to shirk a duty,” Barnes said.

No doubt the lack of clarity is hurting other candidates trying to line up support and financing. Here’s what Poythress, the former state adjutant general of the Georgia National Guard, wrote to his supporters:

“Roy Barnes dedicated almost three decades of service to our great state, performed his duties well and left an amazing legacy. But let’s be honest, he isn’t nearly as connected to the grassroots or core constituencies of our party in the way he used to be.

“This was confirmed to me as I campaigned across the state this week. Countless Democrats pulled me aside to say that they were put off by Barnes’ remarks about his potential comeback candidacy and encouraged me to respond with a stinging response. Instead of taking that course, let me give you my thoughts on Barnes’ comments.

“If Roy Barnes gets in this race, I’m running. If other Democrats get in this race, I’m running. Simply put, I’m running for governor.”

I'm telling you right now, Poythress is not going to bow out because of Roy Barnes. These two fought for the nomination back in 1998. I wonder what is DuBose Porter is thinking about right now. I would like to see him run for governor, but Porter has to be realistic. Does he think that he can defeat Roy Barnes in the primary? Does he think he can out fundraise Barnes? Porter might need to look at the possibility of maybe running for Agriculture Commissioner if my guy Terry Coleman, who I already endorsed decides not to run for the post.

Poythress: 2010 year of Democrats in Georgia

Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Poythress spoke of a return to "sensible, middle of the road, grown-up government" at the third annual Atkinson-Arnall Tribute sponsored by the Coweta County Democratic Party.

Poythress, a former adjutant general of the Georgia National Guard, is the only declared Democratic candidate for Georgia governor in 2010. He was the guest of honor at the Atkinson-Arnall Tribute, a fundraiser for the local party.

Poythress spoke briefly about Gov. Ellis Arnall, who was still an active lawyer when Poythress served as secretary of state. "He really did bring Georgia into the 20th century," Poythress said. Poythress has also served as commissioner of labor, assistant attorney general and deputy revenue commissioner. He ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1998.

Poythress said he is looking forward to a spirited race for governor and "I
believe that 2010 is the year of Democrats in Georgia."

As he travels around the state in his campaign, Poythress has run into quite a lot of people who have voted Republican for years. But when he talks to them about the current state of things, they're saying "you know, I think I am an independent now."

"They're really saying -- 'I'm giving myself permission to vote Democrat," Poythress said. "I do think Georgia is ready to swing back to a moderate, pragmatic Democratic leadership."

In the past eight years, Georgia's Republican administration "has done absolutely nothing," Poythress said. When it comes to economic development, this administration in fixating on fishing, he said.

"I'm going hunting," Poythress said. "Hunting the governor's office, hunting economic recovery."

With all of the talk about Roy Barnes running for governor in 2010, if he does, it will not be a cakewalk for him, nor any other democrat who wants to run for governor. Poythress has the fire in the belly to take on the GOP & it's failing leadership. For more go to www.poythressforgovernor.com