Paul Broun running for Senate

[itshappening]

Tonight was a night of surprises for anyone who attended the Georgia C.H.A.R.G.E (Citizens Helping America Restore Government Ethics) meeting in Gwinnett county. Luckily, ViralRead was on the scene with a front row seat to all the fireworks. The surprise, however, didn’t come from the keynote speaker, former Secretary of State and 2010 gubernatorial candidate Karen Handel. Moments before the meeting was underway Congressman Paul Broun (R-Athens) shocked the crowd as he walked into the room with his wife, Niki Broun, and a top-level staffer.

Jaws hit the floor as Representative Broun took the stage and began discussing the usual/current problems in Washington: Congressional gridlock, damage made to the Republican brand, as well as the lack of leadership coming from the West Wing. As the speech wound down, most folks in the audience were looking at one another, presumably thinking the same thing: Is Congressman Broun going to state his case and make his formal announcement to run to replace retiring Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss? To everyone’s dismay, his closing statement did no such thing.

Thankfully, this isn’t where the story ended. As Congressman Broun sat down to a room full of applause followed my a short silence, Dr. Broun’s wife, Niki, stood up in front of the crowd and courageously declared that not only did her husband have her permission and support to run to be Georgia’s next junior U.S. Senator, but that he was openly announcing his candidacy, the first to formally do so in the wake of Senator Chambliss’ declaration to resign following the remainder of his current term.

Karen Handel did her best to finish the show with grace, as she herself left the door open for a potential run to replace Chambliss. However, with an expected announcement from Congressman Tom Price (R-Roswell) regarding his own entrance into the Senatorial race in the coming days, Handel may be taking a much closer look at replacing him amongst Georgia’s congressional delegation.

Other notable politicos rumored to be looking at the race include Congressman Lynn Westmoreland (R-Columbus), Congressman Jack Kingston (R-Savannah), Congressman Tom Graves (R-Ranger), and Congressman Phil Gingrey (R-Marietta).

Needless to say, it’s gonna be a fun couple years for political junkies in the state of Georgia.

http://viralread.com/2013/01/29/rep-...for-us-senate/

[erowe1]

Good.

[sailingaway]

good. Not my ideal guy, but I am pretty sure he's going to be the best in the bunch, by far.

The audit the Fed bill he sponsored is up to 100 cosponsors, by the way.

[compromise]

The guy wants to End the Fed. I'll be donating as soon as he gets a campaign site up.

[supermario21]

If Price runs, it might be better to just stay in the safe House seat.

[compromise]

If Price runs, it might be better to just stay in the safe House seat.

I hope Price backs out and endorses Broun. It would really suck to have a split in the conservative vote.

[supermario21]

I really want Broun to win the seat, but if Price runs, he will win the primary and Broun could be out of Congress altogether. How much worse is Price than Broun? I've heard that Price is actually pretty decent and much better than Chambliss.

[compromise]

I really want Broun to win the seat, but if Price runs, he will win the primary and Broun could be out of Congress altogether. How much worse is Price than Broun? I've heard that Price is actually pretty decent and much better than Chambliss.

When is the primary in Broun's district and when is the Senate primary?

[supermario21]

I would assume they'd be the same day considering both will be elections in 2014, not special ones. I don't know where Broun's district is (I think rural eastern GA) but Price represents a large suburban Atlanta district to the north of the city. I was reading somewhere that most of the Republican vote is concentrated north of I-20. Price's base is essentially that area, making him a very formidable opponent should he run. Also, if that Handel woman isn't running, that kind of reduces the establishment/Atlanta base vote splitting.

[tsai3904]

How much worse is Price than Broun? I've heard that Price is actually pretty decent and much better than Chambliss.

I kept my own scorecard of almost 100 votes from 2011. Amash and Paul scored 100 while Broun was the next highest at 86. Price scored a 60 with 46 other GOPers between Broun and Price.