Nor'Easter, didn't you see Stephen Colbert's handy guide to what big government and small government are? ;)

Interesting article suggesting that history bodes ill for McKinney: http://www.cqpolitics.com/2006/07/ga_4_history_not_on_mckinneys.html

Quick Analysis... Mr Reed now has proof that there is a God, and He is just... Ms McKinney will have no trouble winning.

I am a middle of the road voter who would vote Republican more often if it were not for the influence of the religious right (and I am a regular church goer, in the choir even). Bush's veto of the stem cell bill is a prime example of their pernicious influence. Anyway, I am very pleased to see Reed lose. I would be cautious about finding too strong a portent for the other Abramoff pals, though. Reed was caught being hypocritical. A man who built his career on fundamentalist religious principles was found to be helping gambling interests. He ran anti-gambling campaigns to help Abramoff's clients' casinos stave off competition. The sheer hypocrisy here is breathtaking. I believe his opponent's tag line was "He betrayed our values" or something like that. For a politician whose whole image is tied up in "values", that is devastating.

Ralph Reed had it coming. One thing about him, however, he will look great in orange. See ya!

From a number of comments above you might think that McKinney lost. She didn't, she's leading. Our African-American racist has another shot at it.

As to it being good that Reed lost; doesn't that just free him up to go back to running around the country again helping elect those people who want to dictate how we live our lives?

The loss by Ralphie brings such joy to my heart that could only be surpassed by Jerry and Pat cought holding hands and running naked in Central Park. Joy to the world. bhoomes, where are you???

I wouldn't dismiss McKinney so easily, but she definitely creates her own problems.

Pollster Watch

Strategic Vision called the Lt. Gov Rep Primary correct (1 PT)

Cagle defeating Reed
42% - 41%
1% pt. margin

Came within 3% pts. of Reed's final total (44%) (1 PT)

Missed the margin of victory (12% pts) as well as Cagle's total (56%) (0 PTS)

Quality of polling
2.0
Quality poll = 4.0 pts

Strategic Vision's average quality score= 2.182

I agree with RMill that this really doesn't bode well for the Abramoff crowd. And although I think the culture of coruption campaign isn't a winner nationaly it will definitly work in places where Abramoff is in play (Ney and Burns etc).
I think McKinney is gone and in my opinion good riddance. I understand that the cop maybe was a little too aggresive, but you can't hit a cop, period. I don't care who you are.

Upcoming Primary Schedule:

7/25 Oklahoma
Rep Primary
Governor
Istook (US Cong) $988 K
Evanoff
Sullivan $201 K
Williamson $511 K

Dem Primary
Henry * (incumbant Gov)$2.367 M
Marr (engineer; '02 Republican nominee) $0

OK-5
(Istook- running for Gov)
Rep Primary
Bode (OK Corporation Commissioner)
$1.132 M raised; $400 K on-hand
Calvey (OK State Rep.)$453K raised; $143 K on-hand
Cornett (Mayor of OK City) $173 K raised; $119 K on-hand
Fallin (OK Lt. Gov)$859 K raised; $316 K on-hand
Morgan (OK State Rep)$417 K raised; $122 K on-hand

Dem Primary
Hunter (surgeon)$203 K raised; $94 K on-hand
Smith (retired teacher, '04 nominee)$11 K raised; under $1K on-hand

August
1 Kansas
3 Tennessee
8 Colorado, Connecticut, Michigan, Missouri
15 Nevada
22 Alaska, Wyoming

Sandwich

Wasn't an actual prediction-

CD 4
Cynthia McKinney (incumbant)
Hank Johnson Jr. (county commissioner)
John Coyne III

While the seat likely will remain in Dem hands, it will be interesting to see if McKinney's antics cost her with a strong challenger in Commissioner Johnson

Posted by: RMill | July 12, 2006 03:15 PM

I had the sense that McKinney was in for a real contest but I did not expect it to be this close.

Taylor ran a picture perfect campaign to overtake Cox and should be a formidible candidate for Purdue. Granted, Purdue has been lying low and hoarding his campaign cash. Now we will see how the DGA reacts and how much cash they can pump into Taylor's coffers.

I expected Reed to lose but this does not bode well for other Abramoff pals (Burns, Ney).

Awwww. So sad for them. So nice for us to not have Mr. Reed in elected office.

I was surprised at how poorly Rep. McKinney performed. I don't recall *anyone* predicting that. If you look at the official results page, you may also find it interesting that Denise Majette is running for statewide office in education. I don't see why she ever abandoned the GA-4 House seat to be sacrificial lamb to Johnny Isakson (and let McKinney back into office).

http://sandwichrepair.blogspot.com

Ralph Reed's defeat is the BEST THING that has happened in America in quite a long time. This brazen two-faced S.O.B. has always wanted to turn America into an exclusively Christian theorcracy, all while chanting the "I'm a regular guy" mantra.

I tip my hat to everyone who voted in this Reuplican primary and managed to keep this radical extremist in lamb's clothing OUT of public service.

Chris - any chance for an apology for not doing your homework on the Cynthia McKinney race? It appears you didnt research any polling or interview anyone in the field, and simply dismissed Hank Johnson's chances, after reading other opinions in the national press. Is this correct? While you are usually one of the best political reporters out there and many others didn't see this coming - it would be great to see a follow-up post!

Oh, and let me try and preempt (or at least predict) the other posts that will follow:

SlimGirlinPearls (and her other 5 aliases): Who cares about Ralph Reed. Condi Rice can turn water into wine.

Tina: [snarl, drool, snarl, drool, snarl] I was walking down the street when, suddenly, I thought I saw one of those monsterous "liburls" -- three arms, green skin, scales, a Bon Jovi tattoo. But then passers-by informed me that I had merely been staring directly into the sun for too long. Never mind.

Well, Ralph Reed going down in flames is certainly a BIG VICTORY for bhoomes. In the "Reed in trouble" entry, bhoomes had written:

>>>Ralph Reed has been one of the best political operatives we ever had, so in a way I would hate to see him win and our party being denied of his great talents. I remember in 2004, when the exit polls had Kerry winning Fla. and Reed said they got it wrong, we are going to win Florida, and right he was. I perfer to see him working at the RNC, plotting his masterful stratery to defeat liberlism.<<

So great - you'd hate to see him win...and he didn't. Happy?

LOL - so "one of your best political operatives" can't even get thru a Republican primary for the exaulted and all-powerful position of Lt. Governor for that omipotent state of GA. Boy, that's some political skill. I'm certain that Democrats are running scared.

Not.

First!

:-)