Barnes, Oxendine in the Lead for Their Parties' Nods for Governor in Ga.

Republican John Oxendine, Georgia's Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, and former Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes have comfortable leads over opponents for their parties' nomination for governor, although one of the challengers to Barnes has moved up in the polls, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll conducted Oct. 20.

Barnes, who was elected governor in 1999 and lost his re-election bid in an upset in 2002, leads Attorney General Thurbert Baker 43 percent to 19 percent with 7 percent preferring some other candidate and 21 percent undecided. Three other candidates are in the 3 to 4 percent range. In August, Barnes had led 42 percent to 9 percent.

Barnes is regarded favorably by 65 percent and unfavorably by 18 percent with 17 percent undecided. Baker is seen favorably by 52 percent and unfavorably by 15 percent, with 32 percent not knowing enough about him to be sure of their opinion.

On the Republican side, Oxendine polls 27 percent with the only other candidate in double digits being Secretary of State Karen Handel at 12 percent.

Oxendine is seen favorably by 61 percent and unfavorably by 17 percent with 22 percent not sure, while Handel is seen favorably by 41 percent and unfavorably by 15 percent. But Handel is clearly less known with 44 percent not being sure enough about her to have an opinion.

Political analyst Stuart Rothenberg notes that the political playing field in Georgia has changed since Barnes was governor when Democrats controlled both houses of the legislature and had won 14 of the previous 15 gubernatorial elections. Now, Georgia is definitely in the red column with a Republican governor, two Republican senators and a GOP-controlled legislature.