Voter’s Guide 2010 - Our pick for lieutenant governor: Carol Porter
Straight-talking political novice full of ideas puts do-nothing incumbent to shame
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE: The lieutenant governor wields the gavel in the state Senate — and is next in line if the governor dies or becomes unable to serve. Like if he, oh, we don’t know, gets indicted.
THE LOWDOWN: The feisty manager of her family’s nine-newspaper chain, Porter’s a political rookie who has even impressed scandal-weary Republicans with her platform of ethics reform and revitalizing Georgia’s economy. As the wife of soon-to-be-former House Minority Leader DuBose Porter, whose own gubernatorial dreams were dashed in the Democratic primary, she knows the issues and has an able adviser whispering into her ear. Even if she were to win, Porter would likely be stripped of all authority by the Senate’s GOP majority, but she could still be an effective advocate for progressive policies.
THE OUTLOOK: Current Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, who somehow survived last year’s GOP bloodletting under the Gold Dome, enjoys strong support, leads the polls, and sits on plenty of cash to dominate the airwaves before Election Day. Porter enjoys grassroots support but faces an uphill battle.