It appears an odd coalition of Athens voters and the Christian right helped dark-horse candidate Paul Broun win a seat in Congress Tuesday. With 98 percent of the votes counted, he received 50.4 percent of the votes to Jim Whitehead's 49.6 percent.
It was not supposed to be this way. Whitehead, a former state senator, had the backing of the Republican establishment, and the Tenth Congressional District is solid GOP territory.
The problem with that, says Matt Towery, political analyst and CEO of Insider Advantage, is that voters, especially Republicans, are disillusioned.
"They're going heavily for the anti-establishment or new breed of Republican, whatever that might be," he says. "I don't know if they knew about Paul Broun, or they just knew he wasn’t the establishment candidate."
Towery says the heavily Democratic city of Athens supported its local doctor, Broun, even though he is a staunchly conservative Republican. Broun also won the support of religious voters in the rural parts of the district.
It appears Broun will serve out the rest of the late U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood's term in Washington But, as of noon Wednesday, Whitehead had not conceded the race. He may request a recount because he trails Broun by less than one percent.
It was not supposed to be this way. Whitehead, a former state senator, had the backing of the Republican establishment, and the Tenth Congressional District is solid GOP territory.
The problem with that, says Matt Towery, political analyst and CEO of Insider Advantage, is that voters, especially Republicans, are disillusioned.
"They're going heavily for the anti-establishment or new breed of Republican, whatever that might be," he says. "I don't know if they knew about Paul Broun, or they just knew he wasn’t the establishment candidate."
Towery says the heavily Democratic city of Athens supported its local doctor, Broun, even though he is a staunchly conservative Republican. Broun also won the support of religious voters in the rural parts of the district.
It appears Broun will serve out the rest of the late U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood's term in Washington But, as of noon Wednesday, Whitehead had not conceded the race. He may request a recount because he trails Broun by less than one percent.
