Black: Mark Taylor has been a point man for Dems in a more visible position as Lt. Gov. -- Bullock: Republicans are scared to death of Cathy Cox.

Cox's likely opponent in next summer's Democratic gubernatorial primary, Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor, has been Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue's sharpest critic on a variety of topics.Taylor's overtly partisan approach could help him in the primary, said Merle Black, a political science professor at Emory University."

The Democratic primary is made up of voters who are hard-core Democrats,'' said Black. "Taylor has been a point man for the Democratic Party in a more visible position as lieutenant governor.''

Appeal to women

But Charles Bullock, a political science professor at the University of Georgia, said Cox also has some attributes that could work to her advantage in a primary setting.

He said the most obvious is that she's a woman, and women made up nearly 60 percent of the voters in last year's Democratic primary.

"Cox will attract women who otherwise vote Republican to ask for Democratic ballots,'' said Bullock.

Indeed, Cox said her strategy is to reach out to voters of all political stripes. To drive that message home, she has chosen former Rep. Dan Ponder, a Republican from Donalsonville, as her campaign chairman.

"Neither party dominates the landscape,'' she said. "The people who win statewide races in the future are going to be Democrats who can attract Republicans and Republicans who can attract Democrats.''

Bullock said one sign of how Republicans view Cox's potential as a gubernatorial opponent is that GOP insiders tried to recruit her to switch parties.

She said four "emissaries'' urged her last fall to turn Republican and run for lieutenant governor."

You don't go out and try to recruit someone you see as a weakling,'' said Bullock. "I think Republicans are scared to death of her.''

(4-17-05, Gwinnette Daily Post.)