Georgia Republicans faced a multi-candidate 2010 primary for governor, even with Lt. Gov.Casey Cagle in the race as the consensus favorite to win the nomination to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue . But Cagle’s surprise announcement last Wednesday that he was withdrawing from the race, citing health problems, has thrown the contest even more up for grabs — and has still more candidates thinking about joining the field.

The crowded field of contenders has been forming since 2006, when Perdue was re-elected to a second consecutive term, the maximum allowed under Georgia’s term-limit law.

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