Tuesday C. Cox "will have just fired the first shot in what is expected to be the most combative, winner-take-all Democratic primary in years."
Once the applause of the hometown crowd fades [Tuesday at Secretary of State Cathy's Cox kickoff of her campaign for governor], the 46-year-old Cox, who lives in DeKalb County, will need all the support she can muster. She will have just fired the first shot in what is expected to be the most combative, winner-take-all Democratic primary in years.
Before she can even begin to contemplate a 2006 race against Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue, she must face Democratic Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor, a longtime politician with deep pockets and a vast political network that includes top leaders in the African-American community.
Political observers predict a bitter primary fight as the two practiced campaigners, who have planned for years to seek the state's highest office, square off.
"It certainly doesn't have to be [a bitter fight]," Cox said. "That's up to the candidates. But if early indications are anything, that's not the way Mark Taylor plays the game. That doesn't mean I have to engage in it."
Taylor's camp already has attempted to label Cox "a liberal." That's serious political bad-mouthing in a conservative state that voted strongly for President Bush in 2004 and, for the first time in more than a century, elected a Republican-controlled state Legislature.
Recently, Taylor's forces have questioned whether Cox can raise enough money to be an effective candidate.
"It's going to be a very expensive race," Taylor campaign spokesman Rick Dent said. "She can't raise the money to beat us. She can't raise the money to beat Sonny Perdue, and we can."
"I'm happy folks think we're the underdog," she said. "My opponent continues to try to persuade people I can't raise money. We'll be looking to surprise some people on June 30."
Cox said her message of improving education, finding regional transportation solutions and bridging the partisan divide will decide the primary race, not who has the most money. She pointed to the 2002 gubernatorial election when underdog Perdue defeated Democratic incumbent Roy Barnes, even though Barnes vastly outspent his Republican opponent.
(4-18-05, AJC.)
_______________
A couple of weeks ago Taylor told a group that he can raise $10 million dollars and is well on his way; that this makes him the better choice; and that Cox can’t raise the money needed to win.
His last campaign disclosure, filed late last year, showed that he had raised $1.7 million. His next report is due June 30.
Before she can even begin to contemplate a 2006 race against Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue, she must face Democratic Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor, a longtime politician with deep pockets and a vast political network that includes top leaders in the African-American community.
Political observers predict a bitter primary fight as the two practiced campaigners, who have planned for years to seek the state's highest office, square off.
"It certainly doesn't have to be [a bitter fight]," Cox said. "That's up to the candidates. But if early indications are anything, that's not the way Mark Taylor plays the game. That doesn't mean I have to engage in it."
Taylor's camp already has attempted to label Cox "a liberal." That's serious political bad-mouthing in a conservative state that voted strongly for President Bush in 2004 and, for the first time in more than a century, elected a Republican-controlled state Legislature.
Recently, Taylor's forces have questioned whether Cox can raise enough money to be an effective candidate.
"It's going to be a very expensive race," Taylor campaign spokesman Rick Dent said. "She can't raise the money to beat us. She can't raise the money to beat Sonny Perdue, and we can."
"I'm happy folks think we're the underdog," she said. "My opponent continues to try to persuade people I can't raise money. We'll be looking to surprise some people on June 30."
Cox said her message of improving education, finding regional transportation solutions and bridging the partisan divide will decide the primary race, not who has the most money. She pointed to the 2002 gubernatorial election when underdog Perdue defeated Democratic incumbent Roy Barnes, even though Barnes vastly outspent his Republican opponent.
(4-18-05, AJC.)
_______________
A couple of weeks ago Taylor told a group that he can raise $10 million dollars and is well on his way; that this makes him the better choice; and that Cox can’t raise the money needed to win.
His last campaign disclosure, filed late last year, showed that he had raised $1.7 million. His next report is due June 30.
posted by Sid Cottingham | 5:45 AM
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