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Democratic Primary in Georgia Turns Ugly as Candidates Attack Each Other

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Georgia's Democratic primary for governor has devolved into a mudslinging match, with Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor and Secretary of State Cathy Cox attacking each other's character and policies. The intense back-and-forth on TV and radio ads has raised questions about the effectiveness of the strategy and its potential impact on the general election against Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue.

Key Takeaways:

  • Taylor and Cox have likely spent millions of dollars on attack ads, with some estimates suggesting they have doled out a combined $4 million to $6 million so far.
  • The winner of the primary will need an additional $4 million to $5 million to be competitive with Perdue, who is expected to have a huge lead in campaign funds.
  • The Democratic Party leaders are confident that the winner will be able to mend wounds and come together to elect a Democrat in the November general election.
  • Perdue's approval rating is at 63 percent in a recent poll, and he is expected to have spent little of his over $10 million campaign war chest due to token Republican primary opposition and state GOP-funded TV ads.
  • The two lesser-known Democratic candidates, Bill Bolton and Mac McCarley, could force a runoff, adding to the expense of the primary and potentially damaging the winner's chances in the general election.
  • The intense negative campaigning has alienated some voters, with a retired auto mechanic stating, "They're slinging mud so fast right now, I don't know which way to go."
  • Democratic leaders had hoped that one of the candidates would run for another office to avoid interparty blood-letting, but both Taylor and Cox decided to run for governor.

Statistics:

  • Taylor and Cox have about $7 million on hand to spend when the last disclosure reports were filed in early April.
  • Perdue's campaign war chest is over $10 million, which he has not spent much of due to token Republican primary opposition and state GOP-funded TV ads.
  • The winner of the primary will likely need an additional $4 million to $5 million to be competitive with Perdue in the general election.
  • Perdue's approval rating is at 63 percent in a recent poll by Survey USA.
  • The two lesser-known Democratic candidates, Bill Bolton and Mac McCarley, could force a runoff, adding to the expense of the primary and potentially damaging the winner's chances in the general election.

Sources:

  • "Perdue's approval rating at 63 percent" - Survey USA poll cited by Georgia Statesboro Herald
  • "Taylor and Cox likely to spend $4 million to $6 million" - University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato quoted in the article
  • "Perdue's campaign war chest is over $10 million" - Article citing state GOP-funded TV ads for Perdue's campaign
  • "Winner of the primary will need an additional $4 million to $5 million" - State Rep. Bob Holmes (D-Atlanta) quoted in the article
  • "Democratic Party leaders confident of November win" - Emil Runge, Democratic Party spokesman

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