Former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel’s campaign for governor will get a last-minute boost from former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who plans to visit Georgia on Handel’s behalf on the eve of the Aug. 10 Republican runoff primary.
In a statement released by Handel’s campaign, Palin said she was “coming to Georgia to campaign with my friend Karen because it is absolutely critical that Georgians nominate an ethical leader and a true conservative to take the fight to Roy Barnes in November.”
In a statement released by Handel’s campaign, Palin said she was “coming to Georgia to campaign with my friend Karen because it is absolutely critical that Georgians nominate an ethical leader and a true conservative to take the fight to Roy Barnes in November.”
The reference to ethics is a less-than-subtle shot at Handel’s runoff opponent, former Rep. Nathan Deal, who the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported is under grand jury scrutiny for his business dealings with the state of Georgia. Either Handel or Deal will face former Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes in the general election.
Palin’s endorsement helped Handel surge to the top of the seven-way Republican primary on July 20, which saw the former state official shoot past Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine and several other candidates to finish 11 points ahead of runner-up Deal.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer have also endorsed Handel, while Deal sports endorsements from former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Georgia Right to Life and the National Rifle Association.
“The people who know Karen Handel – the overwhelming, eye-popping, vast majority of Republican state legislators – have endorsed Nathan Deal,” said Deal spokesman Brian Robinson.
“The people who don’t know Karen Handel have endorsed Karen Handel. We have to give them the benefit of the doubt. They live far away. Maybe they just didn’t know the truth about her liberal record and her efforts to cover it up.”
http://www.politico.com//news/stories/0710/40468.html
Palin’s endorsement helped Handel surge to the top of the seven-way Republican primary on July 20, which saw the former state official shoot past Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine and several other candidates to finish 11 points ahead of runner-up Deal.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer have also endorsed Handel, while Deal sports endorsements from former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Georgia Right to Life and the National Rifle Association.
“The people who know Karen Handel – the overwhelming, eye-popping, vast majority of Republican state legislators – have endorsed Nathan Deal,” said Deal spokesman Brian Robinson.
“The people who don’t know Karen Handel have endorsed Karen Handel. We have to give them the benefit of the doubt. They live far away. Maybe they just didn’t know the truth about her liberal record and her efforts to cover it up.”
http://www.politico.com//news/stories/0710/40468.html