June Vote Set for Ga. Congressional Seat

[Ethelk2044]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-BRF-Georgia-Congressional-Election.html?_r=1&ref=politics&oref=slogin


ATLANTA (AP) -- Gov. Sonny Perdue on Thursday called for a June 19 special election to fill the House seat left vacant by the death of GOP Rep. Charles Norwood.

The date gives the growing field of candidates almost four months to campaign and allows a pair of state senators seeking the seat to complete the current legislative session.

Three Republicans have said they will run to represent the northeastern Georgia district: State Sens. Ralph Hudgens and Jim Whitehead, and Paul Broun, a doctor whose father was a longtime Democratic state senator. Doc Eldridge, a former Democratic mayor of Athens, has said he may also run as a Republican.

Democrat Terry Holley, who was soundly defeated by Norwood last November, also said he plans to run.

There are no primaries before the special election. If no one receives more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff between the top two vote-getters would be held July 17.

Norwood, a seven-term congressman, died last week after suffering from lung disease and cancer. He was 65.

[Greeby]

1. Hmm, what are the Democratic chances on this?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Norwood

In 1994, as a relative unknown, he defeated Democratic incumbent Clete Donald Johnson, Jr., becoming the first Republican to represent his northeastern Georgia district since Reconstruction.

In 2004, Norwood received 74 percent of the vote against Democrat Bob Ellis. In 2006, he received 68 percent of the vote against Democrat Terry Holley

[Ethelk2044]

2. Democrats

I hope they take this seat.

[Jawja]

3. Not good.

This includes some North Georgia counties who are very, very RED. It would be a surprise.