Despite talk, Cagle's pullout doesn't change governor bids

ATLANTA - When Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle announced he was withdrawing from next year's race for governor, Georgia Republicans seemed all too eager to take his place.

But a little more than a week after Cagle bowed out of the race, several prominent Republicans who publicly flirted with jumping into the marquee contest have quickly decided against it.

U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland became the latest on Friday. The Coweta County congressman said he planned to remain in Congress, "where I think I can make a difference as a legislative fighter."

Westmoreland's announcement capped a week in which Cobb County Commission Chairman Sam Olens and House Speaker Pro Tem Mark Burkhalter also decided against running to replace two-term Gov. Sonny Perdue in next year's election.

So, despite the furious political jockeying that's consumed the Georgia GOP in recent days, the field for the race, so far, remains the same: three Republicans and three Democrats.

Political experts said while the lure of the soon-to-be vacant governor's mansion is tempting, candidates likely are being scared off by the grueling demands of the race that already is kicking into gear with more than a year to go until the primary election in summer 2010.

"It is the toughest office in state politics to win," Emory University Political Science Professor Merle Black said of the race for governor. "It requires intensive campaigning and raising enormous amounts of money ... It's one thing to think and talk about getting into the race. It's quite another thing to line up the support you need to do it."

Republicans still in the race for governor are Secretary of State Karen Handel, Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine and state Rep. Austin Scott of Tifton. State Sen. Eric Johnson, currently running for lieutenant governor, still is eying the race for governor in the aftermath of Cagle's withdrawal.

On the Democratic side, Attorney General Thurbert Baker, House Minority Leader DuBose Porter of Dublin and former Georgia National Guard Commander David Poythress are in the race.

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