Press Release from David Poythress:
Last July, I called for former Governor Barnes to rethink his decision to run for Governor. In a Friday radio interview on WGAU (1380AM) in Athens, Democratic Party of Georgia chairwoman Jane Kidd agreed when she said “…for the good of the Party, let’s keep the competition down to as few candidates as possible.”

What’s become clear over the last nine months is that more and more Democrats realize that we need to nominate a candidate who can win in November. Roy Barnes may be the frontrunner, but he cannot beat the Republican nominee.

The points I mentioned last summer hold true today. The state’s teachers haven’t forgiven or forgotten how he insulted them, and they stand ready to enthusiastically vote against him again. The Georgia GOP is so excited about their nominee facing Roy that they have already launched an anti-Barnes website reviving the “King Roy the Rat” image. And, although he claims to be “listening,” Barnes still doesn’t realize that Georgians aren’t buying his reinvention tour.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that he proved he could have a $20 million fundraising lead and all the advantages of being an incumbent and LOSE when he handed the GOP their first keys to the Governor’s office in over 150 years.

The recent polling results show him trailing or even with nearly every Republican candidate, dropping down to the mid-thirties – a far cry from the overwhelming lead in the polls he used to enjoy!

I hope Kidd can convince Barnes to not destroy the Party for the second time in less than a decade. With so many critical issues facing the state and reapportionment looming, the stakes are too high for the Party to take a chance on him again. And he’s brought no new energy or ideas to the campaign so far.

In short, we need a candidate with proven leadership and commonsense solutions to our state’s critical problems. I believe I am the only Democratic candidate with a strong record that can withstand the fierce competition of the General Election.

So let me repeat my sentiment from last summer:

“For the good of the Party, I hope that Roy Barnes realizes that there’s still time for him to change his mind so we can avoid a divisive primary. Ironically, the only sure-fire way to prove that he has changed is for Roy to put Georgia’s needs before his own ambition and stay out of the race for Governor.”

After listening carefully to readers and thinking deeply about the modern role of a newspaper in elections, the AJC Editorial Board is taking a new approach to election coverage, beginning with this November’s elections.
Going forward, our board will use its unique position to work for readers in pursuing with candidates the issues that are critical to the future of our community. The board will provide readers with clear, concise information about candidates’ positions and records. The AJC will no longer endorse political candidates….
We have heard from readers — and we agree — that you don’t need us to tell you how to vote.

Read the rest of the story at the AJC.

Under the Dome Column, Marietta Daily Journal

Rep. Roy Barnes, D-Mableton, said Thursday he regrets walking into a room full of reporters at the State Capitol on Tuesday and making a disparaging comment about Cobb Commission Chairman Bill Byrne’s family.

The comment came after Byrne sent a letter to Rep. Barnes chastising the lawmaker for introducing a resolution that demands House Speaker Newt Gingrich pay back the Kennesaw State University Foundation for legal expenses. In Byrne’s letter, he noted that he intends to run for governor in 1998 and is a potential opponent of Barnes, who has already announced his candidacy.

Barnes sent a letter to Byrne on Wednesday in which he apologized for the off-the -cuff remark he made after receiving Byrne’s letter. Referring to Byrne’s political hopes,  

Barnes said,  “I don’t know who is going to run his campaign – his lesbian daughter or his stripper daughter.”

“The letter said that I made a comment about your family and the comment was inappropriate, and I , and I apologize to you and your family,” Rep. Barnes said Thursday. “I also said we have our political differences from time to time but the comment was inappropriate.”

Byrne reportedly refused to acknowledge the apology from Barnes.

Fast Forward to today, June 3, 2009: The only reason Barnes sent the apology letter to Byrne was because he got caught being himself and a reporter (ME) decided to call him out for it. Barnes stopped me in the hallways of the Capitol that week and scolded me for what I printed. I told him it was stupid of him to say what he did in front of a bunch of reporters. During his tenure as Governor, Barnes proved himself inept as a leader. Let’s hope the state of Georgia remembers this well and keeps him from leaving next year’s primary as the Democratic nominee for Georgia Governor. 

For a PDF copy of the Marietta Daily Journal clip from January 31, 1997, click here.