Political Insider reports that Cox will throw her hat -- or bonnet if you prefer -- into the ring for Gov. later this month.

My 11-29-04 post was entitled "Democratic candidates for Gov. in '06: Just Taylor or Taylor vs. Cox. -- It ain't over till the fat lady sings, & she most definitely hasn't sung yet."

This post conveyed my strong instincts that despite the idea being floated by state Democratic Party officials that -- given the GOP's victories in Nov. 2004 -- the Party must avoid a knock-down primary between Cox and Taylor in 2006, Cox wasn't necessarily going along with such plea or call.

Behind my thinking was how I would think if I were Cox or advising Cox. I would say "Cathy, do you think those floating the idea that you should pass in '06 are in the Big Guy's camp?" "Sid, spare me please. I might have been spending a lot of time on TV as of late, but that doesn't mean I have lost touch with reality. Of course all of the son-of-guns are in Mark's camp." "Therefore, Madam Secretary of State, their calling for you to let Mark have it uncontested could be a furtherance of their own agenda. You decide what Cathy wants to do, paying no mind to such talk, and let events take care of themselves." "Thank you Sid, thank you very much."
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Today's ajc's PI has the following:

Democrats get what they didn't want for Christmas: A two-person race for governor in '06

We're hearing that Secretary of State Cathy Cox has made her decision. She's said to have begun spreading the word that, by the end of this month, she intends to file the paperwork that will allow her to raise money as an '06 Democratic candidate for governor.

A spokesman for Cox declined to comment late Wednesday. But the move would come as no surprise.

A Cox candidacy would create a tremendous fight with Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor for the nomination, and would be a serious test of the strength of the women's vote in a party dominated by women.

It's a confrontation that Democratic party officials have been anxious to avoid, the better to confront a well-funded Gov. Sonny Perdue in two years.

Republicans have been salivating over Cox's job in the state Capitol. The first to announce could be Perry McGuire, a one-time state senator from Carrollton who has lined up significant support and money to launch his campaign for secretary of state.

McGuire, who until last month was a corporate attorney for Chick-Fil-A, will attempt to revive a political career he suspended in the mid-'90s to tend to his family. Back in the day, McGuire and Clint Day directed the GOP's conservative wing in the Senate.

McGuire was an advocate for restricting sex education in younger grades, and favored allowing voters to create laws through public referendums.