I like Handel's chances - she is staying steady. Ox and Deal going back...

Greetings All,

The latest Rasmussen poll has produced howls of laughter and gales of merriment over here at the secret underground Libertarian Command Center (LCC). We’re tickled pink that our republican brothers have spent so much time and so much money to discover that the leading candidate in the impending Governor’s race is good old “undecided”.

It looks like 2010 will be the year of the upset to us as we watch events unfold in the Peoples Republic of New Jersey with Jon “40 Million” Corzine trailing Chris “What Happened to My Lead?” Christie in Rasmussen’s poll from yesterday and some Independent dude named Dagget actually gaining poll position on both of them.

We can’t wait for tomorrows poll numbers on our democrat brothers to see just how King Roy is doing in his quest to regain the throne and finally qualify for that sweet state retirement. I mean, it’s not like any of the polling organizations will ever even try to get a grasp on the status of any Libertarian or other third party candidates since us Libertarians don’t like to spend money on commissioning polls and the rest of the third party crews might be able to scrape together enough money for a dozen Krispy Kreme’s and one cup of coffee. On a good day.

So we feel like it’s up to us to continue to chant our mantra of Smaller Government, Lower Taxes and More Freedom on the off chance that somebody might listen. And we’ll continue to field candidates for state wide office here in Georgia to bring that sentiment to the public’s attention. Candidates like John Monds, our guy for Governor.

So, you can sit back with us for the next 9 or 10 months and watch our republican and democrat brothers practice self immolation and political cannibalism while they try to figure out who their chief head knocker is gonna be.

We’ll be nominating John Monds in March of next year at our statewide convention and introducing the rest of the slate of candidates that will take the field with him on his historic run for the Governorship of Georgia.

Vote for Smaller Government, Lower Taxes and More Freedom! Vote Libertarian! Vote John Monds for Governor!

Yeah, it shows a decline for Oxendine. And yet, he still leads by a higher percentage than Handel, Deal, and Johnson COMBINED.

I'm surprised you posted this here, Jason. This belongs up on Peach Pundit with just about every other post meant to write-off how far ahead Oxendine is.

Is Oxendine pandering to the biggest fringe elements of the GOP? Yes. Is he a big-government Republican? Yes. Will he ever get my vote? NO.

But there isn't a shred of objectivity in this post, or any of the others I've seen on Peach Pundit about the Ox. You'd have been better off titling the post, "Ox is a fat, lazy leech whose feet smell like vinegar."

Jace,

You don't think it's odd that someone with a 90% name recognition, more than anyone else in this race, can only get 27% of voters?

Yeah, I don't care for John Oxendine. I don't think I've hid that here. This is a blog, everything is subjective. I don't pretend to hide my bias. You, more than anyone else, should know that.

Jason,

No, I don't think that's odd at all. He has the highest name recognition and is polling more than the next TOP 3 big names combined. And has been for months.

I know. And I don't expect you to hide your bias. I read your blog because of your bias.

But I find it hard to imagine that if it was Karen Handel polling around 30% that you or any of the front pagers over at Peach Pundit would call it "insignificant".

I do not want Oxendine to win, just as much as you don't. But don't underestimate the ability of the Georgia Electorate to to great and terrible things.

After all, the elected Sonny (twice) and his two court jesters Chamblis and Isakson. Until the Georgia Electorate does something to prove to me that it is no longer capable of f*ck-ups beyond reasonable comprehension, I'm going to have to assume the obvious: That Oxendine is the frontrunner in a big way.

Jace,

A candidate for Governor that has been elected every four years since 1994 to a statewide office with 90% name recognition that can only manage 27% of Republican primary voters has a serious problem on his hands. That's one of the points I made during the summer. Oxendine is spending money, but he hasn't really been able to break out of the mid 30's.

Oxendine is the frontrunner right now. We're still eight months out and so many voters are still undecided, meaning they aren't sold on the guy whose name the know they most, which is why his campaign is pandering to every interest group on the right in the state.

Right now Georgia needs Jeff Chapman as Governor. The Ox can not be trusted. He can be bought and sold and has a problem telling the truth.

I am sure that I'd mentioned my thoughts on the encounter between myself and Oxidine at the July 4th Cobb Tea Party.

He came off like either an used car salesmen or a door-to-door brush sellsmen.

Two things I detest in a statesmen.

Hence why I am voting for liberty and freedom, and voting libertarian this time round.

I would hope that the Republicans would not pick Oxendine as the candidate. The man lacks character and as Michael said above he presents himself as some type of salesman. And we don't need anymore salesmen at the helm.

Michael's description is about as accurate as it can get.

Finially, an issue Libertarians , Democrats and many Republicans can agree on! John Oxendine is a horrible candidate for Governor. For you Libertarians out there, I invite you to work with " Libertarians for Austin Scott for Ga.", to help Austin Scott win the Republican primary in June. Austin has a proven record as being a true conservative with a track record to back it up. I invite all of you to check out his platform at his website scottforGa.com.

Austin Scott is as bad as Oxendine, but at least he is honest about it.

Jason, I'm sorry you have a negative opinion of Austin Scott. I've researched all the Republican candidates and see no comparisons between Scott and Oxendine. Austin Scott was the first and only candidate to reach out to Georgias Libertarians for their support and opinions on how to make Georgia a better state for all its citizens. Represenative Scott walked over one thousand miles seeking those opinions from anyone who cared to join him for a few miles of his walk. I personally walked five miles of that walk with him . While we disagreed on some issues, we agreed on enough for me to srealixe he would be the best choice for the Republican parties nominee for Governor . And honestly, while I look forward to the day we have a sitting Libertarian Governor, I feel we will be as well represented with a committed conservative like Austin Scott as our governor. I would encouraged you to review Represenative Scotts record as a state Represenative. He is a provrn candidate who will govern our state with integrity and honestly.

Austin Scott was the first and only candidate to reach out to Georgias Libertarians for their support and opinions on how to make Georgia a better state for all its citizens.

When was this? Scott doesn't offer much to libertarians. He is the populist candidate in the Republican primary. He tries to play off emotions of people by making them feel good. He may be a likable guy, but there is nothing for for libertarians.

I would encouraged you to review Represenative Scotts record as a state Represenative.

I have, that why I hold the this opinion. He voted for every bloated budget that has been presented by his party.

He voted for the Prescription Drug Monitoring Act twice (here and here.

He twice voted in favor of a $25 billion tax increase for transportation (here and here). He also wants to "broaden the scope of mass transit in Georgia." That is nothing more than wasteful, pork barrel spending that will divert funding from roads to a mode of transportation that does not reduce congestion.

So, yeah...libertarians have a reason to be skeptical of someone that is just another big government Republican.

And we don't need another big government Republican. That kind of pork barrel spending is in the minds of many these days.

Jason,

I'm with you for the most part on Scott's record. It aint good, and I've told him that personally.

That said, I DO think he will make an honest effort to at least make government more efficient with the money it has, which is better than his fellow tax and spend Republicans. I vividly remember talking with him about this over 3.5 hrs and 10 miles of South GA highway, and he has some great ideas there.

Yeah, we'd wind up opposing quite a few of his positions - we're going to do that with ANY R or D candidate.

That said, at least Scott would be willing to talk to us and possibly change his mind on some things if we can present a good enough argument. He doesn't want to cram his personal religious beliefs down the throat of every Georgian, and that is something that not even Karen Handel can say.

Honestly, if July 20, 2010 were today, I'd vote for Scott, with Eric Johnson as my #2 guy. My main problem with Johnson is that he comes across as too much of a 'typical' politician, even though I happen to like many of his ideas. I'm also worried about church/state issues with him, though CERTAINLY to nowhere NEAR the degree of Ox or McBerry.

Probably the most interesting thing about this poll in general though? Look back at the past 3 polls from this company, starting in June. John Oxendine is the ONLY candidate to fall in both between-poll periods. Eric Johnson is the only one who has remained steady, and Ray McBerry is the only one who has consistently risen - though he tops out at 3% right now, and his growth appears to be slowing.