The upcoming Georgia GOP Convention is always quite the event for local politicos, a place to see and be seen by the state’s foremost names and figures. It’s a time for local candidates to introduce themselves to the activist contingent of the party, for the party to elect its own leadership, determine and state its platform amidst heated debate, (RFRA anyone?). It is a local affair for the ruling party in Georgia, a weekend of inside baseball that typically doesn’t draw much attention from the outside world. With 2016 looming though, that notion is thrown out the window.
This Friday a veritable who’s who of Presidential hopefuls will converge upon the Classic City, each wanting to pump up their Conservative credentials and build up some early momentum in a state with ever-increasing national clout. With a moved up Primary coinciding with a handful of other Southern states, Georgia and its 76 national delegates are more vital than ever.
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham is expected to announce his bid for the White House on June 1st, so a quick trip down South to rally support is unsurprising. While certainly not considered a front-runner among a crowded field, the hawkish Senator does have roots in ‘SEC’ country.
On the opposite side of that coin is New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who is about as Southern as the New York Yankees. He too, though, will be in Athens, meeting and greeting local the local voters and hopefully gaining some good will from the press. Christie has had a rough time in the media as of late, between the bridge closing scandal and spending $82,594 on concessions at football games, and could use a little pick-me-up. While not the socially conservative type of politician who Georgians typically favor, Christie does have a bit of Newt Gingrich in him, which as we saw in 2012 appeals strongly to Georgians.
Texas Senator and hard-right firebrand Ted Cruz will also be attending the convention, attempting to seize the banner of social conservatism that he has waved throughout his tenure in Washington. While a divisive figure politically, Cruz figures to have his share of fans in the South.
The biggest name attending the convention is likely to be Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who with his Hispanic heritage, natural speaking ability, and deep pockets has been hailed as one of the front-runners at this early stage. With fellow Floridian Jeb Bush already having snatched up a great deal of establishment support in Georgia, Rubio’s appearance shows that he doesn’t want to fall behind the curve.
Expect Georgia to continue to play an increased role in the 2016 Republican Primaries, with more and more visits from candidates as the field whittles itself down. Where the state was something of an afterthought in 2008 and 2012 due to its falling after South Carolina and Florida, in 2016 candidates are obviously putting an emphasis on gaining an edge in the state that is home to the “Capital of the South”.
