Deal touts endorsement by Thomas in Dalton visit

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Nathan Deal shakes hands with state Sen. Don Thomas on Friday at Peacock Alley. (Matt Hamilton/The Daily Citizen)
Dixie Kinard hugs Nathan Deal as he arrives at Peacock Alley. (Matt Hamilton/The Daily Citizen)
Nathan Deal, right, talks with, from left, Phil Wilheit, the chairman of the Deal campaign, and Bob and Dixie Kinard. (Matt Hamilton/The Daily Citizen)
John Davis, Nanette Yarborough and Joe Yarborough talk with Nathan Deal. (Matt Hamilton/The Daily Citizen)

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July 31, 2010

Jamie Jones jamiejones@daltoncitizen.com The Dalton Daily Citizen Sat Jul 31, 2010, 02:30 AM EDT

Whitfield County has already shown support for Republican governor hopeful Nathan Deal at the polls. Now the former congressman has picked up endorsements from several area leaders.

Deal was in Dalton on Friday campaigning for the Aug. 10 Republican runoff against Karen Handel. During a press conference at Peacock Alley before a fundraiser across the street at the Freight Depot, Deal introduced longtime state Sen. Don Thomas as his latest endorser.

In the Republican primary last month, Handel garnered 34.1 percent of the vote statewide compared to Deal’s 22.9 percent. Democratic nominee Roy Barnes, a former governor, received 65.6 percent of the vote in his party’s primary.

“Obviously, Nathan is the person that can and will beat Roy Barnes in the election in November,” said Thomas, who is retiring from the Senate after 16 years. “He’s right on all the issues: illegal immigration, immigration, keeping taxes down. He knows government inside out. He’s demonstrated a very conservative approach in Congress and has served us well for the past 17 years and it’s an honor to endorse Nathan for governor.”

Before the primary, Thomas endorsed Eric Johnson. Johnson came in third with 20.1 percent of the vote. He has not voiced support for either candidate.

So why the switch for Thomas?

“In the beginning I said I had two very good friends that were both eminently qualified to be governor,” Thomas said. “Eric and I had been together in the Senate for 14 years, Nathan and I have been together for 17 years as he’s represented us in the Congress. I supported him every time.”

Handel made headlines by garnering an endorsement from former Republican vice president nominee Sarah Palin. The former Alaska governor is expected to appear at a campaign rally with Handel one day before the runoff. Deal has an endorsement from former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.

Deal admits many people don’t pay attention to endorsements or believe they matter. However, he believes the number and quality of the endorsers speaks to his qualifications to be governor.

“I think the endorsements are from people who are for all intents and purposes the board of directors of the state of Georgia,” Deal said. “That’s what I perceive the members of the General Assembly to be. It’s important because the governor is the chief executive officer and if the governor proposes programs that require legislative action, if you don’t have a good working relationship with your board of directors, mainly the General Assembly, you’re not going to be very successful in getting your agenda adopted.”

Local officials who had already endorsed Deal are state Reps. Roger Williams, R-Dalton, and Tom Dickson, R-Cohutta; state Sen.-elect Charlie Bethel, R-Dalton; and Mike Babb, chairman of the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners.

Deal’s strength in Whitfield County showed in the July 20 Republican primary. He received 3,331 (43.1 percent) of the 7,721 votes while Handel received 2,580 votes (33.4 percent). Five other candidates received the remaining votes. Barnes received 705 (62.9 percent) of the 1,120 votes cast in the Democratic primary in Whitfield County.

As the runoff edges closer, Handel’s television advertisements have turned up the heat on Deal and alleged ethical lapses. Deal has denied all allegations. A Handel campaign television spot airing this week calls Deal “a corrupt relic of Washington.”

“It seems in this political season, some candidates are willing to attack everybody, and Handel’s campaign has been consistent in that regard,” Deal said. “She’s attacked every major candidate in the Republican primary and I guess since I am the only one as the last man standing, I now become the focal point for her attacks. I think that is indeed unfortunate because I don’t think the people of this state want to hear about the dark side of politics.”

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