Georgia Officials Split on Presidential Endorsements (UPDATE 1)
Additional reporting by Matthew Cardinale.
(APN) ATLANTA — With Georgia’s February 5, 2008, Presidential Primary Election quickly approaching, many of Georgia’s elected officials are finalizing their endorsements among the top Democratic candidates for President of the United States.
Atlanta Progressive News has compiled the following list of endorsements, based on information reported in press releases, candidate websites, and previous press reports. US Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) seems to be leading in the number of Georgia endorsements by elected officials, followed by US Sen. Clinton (D-N) and former US Sen. Edwards (D-NC), virtually tied for second.
One problem emerged out of the analysis: State Rep. Billy Mitchell is listed as a supporter by both the Edwards and Clinton campaigns. Edwards’s website lists Mitchell as an endorser. Emails from Clinton’s Georgia campaign office list him as a supporter and campaign contact for DeKalb County.
US SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D-NY)
US Reps. John Lewis (D-GA) and David Scott (D-GA).
All three statewide elected Democrats: Tommy Irvin, Agriculture Commissioner; Thurbert Baker, Attorney General; and Michael Thurmond, Labor Commissioner.
Atlanta City Council Members Anne Fauver and Kwanza Hall.
State Reps. Pat Gardner (Atlanta), Carolyn Hughley (Columbus), Billy Mitchell (Stone Mountain), Mary Margaret Oliver (Decatur), Nikki Randall (Macon), Calvin Smyre (Colubmus), and Coach Williams (Stone Mountain).
FMR. US SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC)
Former Gov. Roy Barnes and former Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor.
State Senate Minority Leader Robert Brown (Macon), Sen. Vincent Fort (Atlanta), Steve Henson (Tucker), and Valencia Seay (Riverdale).
State House of Representatives Minority Leader Dubose Porter (Dublin), Chief Deputy Whip Rob Teilhet (Smyrna), Reps. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield (Decatur), Hugh Floyd (Norcross), Gerald Greene (Cuthbert), Michele Henson (Stone Mountain), Jeannette Jamieson (Toccoa), Charles Jenkins (Blairsville), Billy Mitchell (Stone Mountain), and Wade Starr (Clayton and Henry).
US SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL)
US Reps. Sanford Bishop (D-GA) and Hank Johnson (D-GA).
State Reps. Stacey Abrams (DeKalb), Roger Bruce (Douglas, Fulton), Karla Drenner (DeKalb), Virgil Fludd (Fayette, Fulton), Gloria Frazier (Burke, Richmond), Craig J. Gordon (Chatham), Lynmore James (Macon), Sheila Jones (Cobb, Fulton), Darryl Jordan (Clayton, Fayette), Randal Mangahm (DeKalb, Rockdale), Alisha Thomas Morgan (Cobb), Howard Mosby (DeKalb, Henry) Robbin Shipp State (DeKalb, Fulton) Pam Stephenson (DeKalb, Rockdale), Brian Thomas (Gwinnett), and Stan Watson (DeKalb, Henry).
State Sens. David Adelman (DeKalb), Gloria Butler (DeKalb, Gwinnett), Gail Davenport (Clayton, Henry), Emanuel Jones (DeKalb Henry), Ronald Ramsey (DeKalb, Rockdale), Kasim Reed (Atlanta), Doug Stoner (Cobb), Ed Tarver (Richmond), Curt Thompson (Dekalb, Gwinnett).
Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. Atlanta City Council Members Lisa Borders, C.T. Martin, Ceasar Mitchell, and Ivory Lee Young, Jr.
CORRECTION: Original article omitted Clinton endorsements from 4 officials which have been added. This necessitated a correction where APN had stated Edwards was 2nd in number of endorsements and Hillary third. They appear to be now tied with 14 each.
About the author:
Jonathan Springston is a Senior Staff Writer for Atlanta Progressive News and may be reached at jonathan@atlantaprogressivenews.com Matthew Cardinale is the News Editor for the Atlanta Progressive News and may be reached at matthew@atlantaprogressivenews.com.
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