47 Days. 47 days until the state of Georgia votes for its pick for the presidential nominee in each party. Georgia, along with several other states, is a part of the new Super Tuesday and the SEC Primary.
Iowa votes in less than three weeks and New Hampshire in four. There is only one debate left before the Iowa vote, in the Hawkeye State four days before the big vote. New Hampshire hosts a debate three days before their vote.
As the election draws closer, politicians know their window for making an endorsement and garnering the attention that comes with it is closing. Some politicians may make an endorsement as part of a career enhancement and some may be retired who still wish to exert whatever influence they still have left. Some may be looking to be actively involved in a campaign or even to become part of a possible administration and the earlier the endorsement, the closer the partnership.
In Georgia, as in other states, they’re starting to come pretty quickly. Two candidates in Georgia are far outshining the others on the endorsement board.
Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio have both attracted much attention from Peach State politicos and it shows.
Rubio just announced three new endorsements from state office holders this past week – State Senator Rick Jeffares (R- McDonough), State Representative Gerald Greene (R- Cuthbert), and State Representative Howard Maxwell (R- Dallas). Other local leaders also came out for Rubio, including the Cobb County District Attorney Vic Reynolds, Cherokee County DA Shannon Wallace, Paulding County DA DIck Donovan, Hiram Mayor Teresa Philyaw and Sugar Hill Councilman Brandon Hembree. Several other state reps have also previously endorsed Rubio – including Buzz Brockway, Michael Caldwell, Mike Dudgeon, Trey Kelley and several others. Austin Scott is Rubio’s lone Congressman in his camp.
Cruz, for his part, is not short on Georgia endorsements. Congressman Jody Hice, Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens, and a list of state reps. and state senators, including possible Lynn Westmoreland replacement in Congress Josh McKoon.
As for heavy hitters, Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle and Attorney General Sam Olens have bother endorsed former Florida Governor Jeb Bush.
Do endorsements really matter anyway though? Despite a somewhat surprise endorsement by former Georgia GOP Chair Sue Everhart last Saturday, Donald Trump has very few endorsements. State Senators Michael Williams and Burt Jones, along with State Rep. Steve Tarvin endorsed Trump, but compared to some of the others, it’s a paltry list. A quick glance at Real Clear Politics and their famous poll tracker however, and Trump is leading by 23 points. Polling took a break over the holidays but the last poll taken before Christmas, by Opinion Savvy, showed Trump at 40% in Georgia, ahead by 20% over a near tie between Rubio and Cruz.
With 47 days left, expect a lot more politicians to come out with their endorsements in an effort to move some of those polls.
