I don't have written confirmation or a link, but the local PBS station announced in a news break during "All things Considered" tonight that Scott Dix, R-708th is switching parties. This is Dix's sixth term -- so it's a pretty big jump for him. Not sure why, but I'm expecting news tomorrow.
Also, there's a second Dem challenger for Zell's seat "Part-time DeKalb County Magistrate Gary Leshaw announced Thursday that he is running for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Zell Miller."
In other news, Sonny Perdue already has $2.88M in his campaign fund for 2006. this from a man who accused Roy Barnes of sellling out to special interests. In fairness, Barnes was no great shakes, and in the article, stating that most of Perdue's larg contributors are from construction and road building, Nick Ayers, executive director of Perdue's re-election campaign, says they aren't going after the money, and...Ayers noted that many donors have expected their contributions to bring them access to Perdue. He has had to tell them it doesn't.
"Probably 10 lobbyists have called me this week and said they want to meet with the governor to give him $70,000, $80,000, $100,000," Ayers said. "I've had to tell them , 'We want you to know this doesn't get you anything.' They have been surprised."
And yet, there's a lot of road contracts on the table and construction expansion in the gov's plan...much of it privatized, including the proposed toll road linking Atlanta to UG in Athens...
I'm holding to my prediction that Georgia Voters aren't nearly as dumb as either their legistlators or the rest of the county thinks they are...I've been seeing more Dean and Clark stickers in heavily republican NE Gwinnett county, which is also heavily white and affluent...The SUV ratio is high here...but they've had a hike in their property taxes and are frequently at odds with the Metro area...
I'm keeping my fingers crossed.