GA: Barnes Clinches Nod, Handel & Deal Are Runoff Bound

Former Gov. Roy Barnes (D) cruised to victory in yesterday's six-way Democratic primary, earning 66% of the vote--much more than th 50%+1 needed to avoid a runoff. His closest competitor was Attorney General Thurbert Baker (D), who carried 22% of the vote.

On the Republican side, things are a bit more complicated. Former Secretary of State Karen Handel (R) finished first last night with 34%--but didn't garner enough support to clinch the nomination. She will face former Rep. Nathan Deal (R)--who had 23%--in an August 10 runoff.

State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine (R), who was the GOP frontrunner for months, finished a distant fourth yesterday with 17%. It seems that his campaign's message was silenced by the high profile endorsements than Handel and Deal received, from Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich, respectively (do I smell a 2012 hopeful proxy fight?).

In the 4th district, Rep. Hank Johnson (D) fended off a primary challenge from Vernon Jones (D) and Connie Stokes (D).

In the GOP primary for the open 7th district (being vacated by Republican John Linder), Rob Woodall (R)--Linder's former chief of staff--and right wing talk show host Jody Hice (R) qualified for a runoff. The highly touted state Rep. Clay Cox (R) fell short, finishing in a disappointed third place.

In the 8th district, state Rep. Austin Scott (R) narrowly avoided a runoff against two lesser-known rivals with 52% of the vote. Scott, who has proven to be a strong candidate, will now face Rep. Jim Marshall (D) in the general election.

And finally in the 12th, Rep. John Barrow (D) fought back a health care themed primary challenge from state Sen. Regina Thomas (D) 58% to 42%. On the Republican side, Tea Party favorite Ray McKinney (R) and Thunderbolt township fire chief Carl Smith (R) will face off each other in an August 10 runoff.