Bring 'em on, GOP candidates for Lt. Gov. that is. The more the merrier, and for sure, the more GOP candidates the better for the Dems in Nov. '06.

In a 9-4-04 post I wrote:

"When I started this blog, my heading included the following: 'Conventional wisdom is that in order to win, a Republican must veer right for the primary, and then veer back left toward the center for the general election. Is the reverse now true for the Democratic Party?'"

We witnessed this with Isakson. As noted by Bill Shipp in his article about Sen. Isakson entitled "Ardent Moderate" that is in my 1/5/05 post:

"Isakson's almost-fatal political mistake occurred in 1996 when he announced he was a pro-choice candidate for the Senate. Many pro-life Republicans never forgave him, and his stance cost him the Republican nomination. Since then, and especially during the 2004 campaign, Isakson has drifted increasingly to the right. He is now anti-abortion (with some exceptions), anti-gay marriage and pro-gun rights.

"He captured the Republican nomination without a runoff against an established middle-Georgia congressman, Mac Collins, and an eloquent business executive, Herman Cain. His opponents tried to label Isakson an ardent 'moderate' -- which most Georgians apparently like."

Today in the 1-5-05 ajc Tom Baxter informs that:

"Ralph Reed, the former Christian Coalition director and state GOP chairman, filed papers Friday to begin raising money for the 2006 lieutenant governor's race, but he has not officially declared."

" Two other Republicans have already announced they're running for the post. Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine set up his campaign committee last year, and Sen. Casey Cagle (R-Gainesville) filed earlier this week."

This is not "new" news* of course, but Reed's filing of the necessary papers yesterday to begin raising money is.

So what's the great news about Reed plunging deeper into the lieutenant governor's race, and why the more the better?

We have to go back to my introduction

(1) about conventional wisdom being that a Republican must veer right for the primary to win with those voting Republican, and then veer back left toward the center for the general election;

(2) how last summer in debate after debate we witnessed Collins, Brother Cain and Isakson argue over who was the most conservative; and

(3) that most Georgians generally preferring a moderate when given a choice, which most Georgians apparently like.

In the 2006 race for lieutenant governor among those candidates identified above (and also other possible candidates identified below in the footnote), we can reasonably expect a repeat of the Republican candidates all laying claim -- and most of these candidates so claiming with some justification in different areas -- to being the most conservative of the conversative.

This should bode well for setting up Democrats in this and other races in Nov. 2006; not just the race for lieutenant governor race, but for governor as well, and hopefully even filtering down to legislative races.

Judging from legislation introduced by Republicans in this 2005, by this time next year we might well expect GOP candidates running on platforms advocating no dancing; guns being allowed in sanctuaries and other public places; outlawing birth control; having sex in the standing position because it looks like they're dancing; and possibly even outlawing sex other than strictly for procreation.

All of such GOP maneuvering for victory in the Republican primary should make all Democratic candidates look attractive to the average voter.
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* (Baxter & Galloway broke the news that Reed was considering a run for lieutenant governor in the 1-11-05 PI, and in the 1-03-05 PI noted others persons interested in this race: House Majority Whip Jerry Keen (R-St. Simons Island); Sen. Tommie Williams (R-Lyons); and Sen. Casey Cagle (R-Gainesville); and Majority Leader Bill Stephens (R-Canton). Since such time, Sen. Stephens has noted as interest in running for secretary of state. 1-24-05 PI.)