Bill Shipp shares his take on current state of affairs for gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial 2006 races.

This week Bill Shipp writes:

Gov. Perdue may not have a cakewalk after all in his quest for the Republican gubernatorial nomination next year. Former Cobb Commission Chairman Bill Byrne, whom Perdue defeated in the 2002 primary, is turning up the volume of criticism on the Perdue administration on a variety of fronts. Earlier, former Christian Coalition chief Ralph Reed said he was dedicated to doing what it takes to help Perdue win re-election.

However, Reed may not have the time and resources to come to the aid of Perdue. As a candidate for lieutenant governor, Reed is already watching the line of possible Democratic and Republican opponents grow longer by the day. As a big-time lobbyist, Reed sees his legal bills soaring and his bad press spreading regarding his anti-gaming lobbying activities in Texas and Alabama.

Even so, our oddsmakers see Reed as a favorite to win the lieutenant governor's office next year. Incumbent Perdue may have a much tougher time hanging onto his job.
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I agree with the Dean on Perdue, but I am a long way from saying Reed is the favorite to win either the primary or the general. But know this, they don't call him the Dean for nothing.