BREAKING: Handel Concedes; Nathan Deal Wins Ga. GOP Gubernatorial Runoff
Posted on | August 11, 2010 | 21 Comments
A recount seemed certain last night, but now Karen Handel has called it quits, as Aaron Sheinin reports from Atlanta:
Yesterday, Karen Handel called Nathan Deal a “corrupt relic of Washington.” Today, however, Handel said she is endorsing him as the GOP nominee for governor.
In a statement just released from the Handel campaign, she said she called Deal this morning to concede the nomination.The November ballot is now set. Deal will represent the GOP and face Democrat Roy Barnes and Libertarian John Monds.
Deal spokesman Brian Robinson said that U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga., coordinated the phone call between Handel and Deal.
Good news, then, that Republicans have united to help save my native state from a return of Retread Roy Barnes. And thanks to Orit Sklar for giving me the heads-up last week.
NATHAN DEAL for GEORGIA GOVERNOR
UPDATE: Let me hasten to add that Libertarian gubernatorial candidate John Monds is a friend of mine and a great guy. In 2008, John and I were part of a 2,800-mile round-trip in a 15-passenger van full of “smelly libertarians” for the Libertarian Party national convention in Denver. Tom Knapp was also aboard for that trip.
We know that Sarah Palin endorsed Handel, who lost the GOP primary to Deal, and we know that Palin endorsed libertarian-leaning Rand Paul in Kentucky. If Palin really wanted to “go rogue” in Georgia, she could endorse John Monds on the Libertarian ticket — which would be a real game-changer.
Yeah, a Palin endorsement of the Libertarian candidate here would be a guaranteed nightmare for both Democrats and Republicans in Georgia. It’s extremely unlikely, of course, but I’m throwing the idea out there, just in case Team Sarah wants to try stirring up some serious “you betcha” mischief.
UPDATE II: Allahpundit might have once changed planes at Hartsfield Airport.

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