Deal or No Deal?*

His office won't confirm it, but there are reports that Republican Congressman Nathan Deal is going to run for Governor.

Deal would join Secretary of State Karen Handel and State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine on the Republican side. His office did acknowledge Deal will be holding a press conference this Friday morning in Gainesville to make what they describe as a "significant" announcement. Meanwhile, with Lt. Governor Casey Cagle dropping out of the race, Deal's close ties to Georgia business groups could make him the de-facto choice for trade and industry organizations. That's according to Trey Hood, political scientist at the University of Georgia.

"He's a fairly conservative Republican. I think he would play well with business interests maybe better than some of the other candidates in the race, and so I think he could attract that from the GOP quarters."

Deal has worked with the Chamber of Commerce on numerous issues, including a plan to dam the Flint River. Deal has served in Congress since 1992. He was elected as a Democrat, but switched parties in 1996. Deal was a captain in the Army and attended Mercer University.

*-Sorry about the cheesy headline...couldn't resist-John

'Antidiscrimination Act' from House

House Republicans have introduced a measure aimed at erasing a policy that allows local governments to consider the race of contractors bidding on projects. The measure introduced Wednesday also would ban colleges from considering an applicant's race or gender. The measure, dubbed the "Antidiscrimination Act of 2009," has drawn fierce criticism from Democrats. But it's also earned the support of two black Republicans and a handful of other GOP lawmakers who say it's a first step toward creating a more "colorblind society." State Rep. Clay Cox of Lilburn, who authored the bill, says he hopes it "sends the message that race isn't important." Meanwhile, black legislative leaders called it an "awful piece of legislation."

(Associated Press)

Does Goddard's Loss Doom Everhart?

Coming off a big Senate win that helped boost morale nationally for the GOP, there is a political fight brewing over who gets to lead the state Republican party.

Sue Everhart is the current party chair, and will run for another term. Yet, as Everhart acknowledges, some influential voices in the party say it’s time for someone else to serve.

"I don't know what they are basing it on, other than the fact we were not able to seal the deal with Rick Goddard. We put a lot of money and support into that campaign and we had a great a candidate," Everhart said.

Republican Rick Goddard lost in his bid to unseat Democratic Congressman Jim Marshall in the conservative eighth district.

Several North Georgia GOP county chairs contacted by GPB praised Everhart for increasing turn out the vote efforts in rural areas.

These county leaders also told GPB they've been contacted by two high profile GOP party members who are considering running for the leadership position. They didn't disclose who contacted them or other details of their conversation.

State Rep. to head influential GOP committee

A Georgia Congressman has taken a step-up the ladder in the U.S. Congress.

Representative Tom Price of Roswell was elected the next chairman of the influential Republican Study Committee. It includes more than half of U.S. House Republicans, and is the largest of the House caucuses.

Price says his new role will be to preserve a needed contrast between the incoming Obama administration, and what Price says many American people want.

Price is a former Senate Majority leader in Georgia’s Legislature. He’s earned more of a spotlight by serving as a lead GOP advocate on major legislative disputes. He was elected to Congress in 2004.

New Barack Obama TV ad to air in Georgia

Georgia is one of 18 states where a new ad by Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama will begin airing on Friday.

The 60-second spot is called "Country I Love," and offers a biographical sketch of the Illinois senator. It's Obama's first TV ad since clinching his party's nomination.

Georgia has voted heavily Republican in recent years, and the GOP believes the state will award its 15 electoral votes to John McCain, the GOP nominee in waiting, in November. But Obama thinks he can compete in the state, which has a large number of black voters. He has paid campaign staff in Georgia helping people register to vote.

Republican Overview for Super Tuesday

Several new polls out today show the Republican primary contest between former Massachuttest Governor Mitt Romney (R) and Arizona Senator John McCain (R) tightening in Georgia.

Generally speaking, by this time in the primary, Georiga's, rural Republicans have coalesced around a GOP candidate. This year, though, that is not happening. Floyd County GOP chair, Martha Bryant, said what is driving the division among rural Republicans is different issues-- such as the economy and the Iraq War.

"It is really difficult because whoever you talk to, either one of those might be there main issue. And, that is why it is so hard to coalesce around one candidate," said Bryant.

Bryant said many of the rank and file Republicans she speaks with like McCain's position on the War, Romney's vision for the economy, and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee's opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage. By Tuesday night, Bryant said the state's GOP will know what issue Republican voters care about most by looking at which candidate wins Georgia.

Retired General to oppose Marshall

A retired Robins Air Force base commander says he will seek the GOP nomination to run against Middle Georgia Democratic Congressman Jim Marshall.

After weeks of speculation, Retired Major General Richard Goddard announced Tuesday he will try to unseat Jim Marshall to represent Georgia’s 8th Congressional District.

Goddard says watching the Democratic-controlled congress in action this year helped him make his decision. He says the vision the liberal left has for this country is not what most men fought and died for. The retired general spent 37 years in the military. He served as a fighter pilot in Vietnam, flying 227 missions. He says he supports the war in Iraq.

Goddard says he was heavily recruited by Republican Party leaders. Congressional documents identify the 8th district as one of the GOP’s top 20 targets for the 2008 election.

Goddard currently works as a Vice-President at Mercer University in Macon.