Douglas Mc Arthur quoted an old barracks tune when he said "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away."

The same is true with old political campaign managers and consultants, which I have some kinship to. They don't die either, and they don't seem to fade away.

Most that I worked with over the years in presidential, gubernatorial, congressional campaigns keep their fingers and toes in current campaigns, though many wish they (we) would fade away.

It's interesting how the up and coming new campaign gurus would like to see the old timers fade away, while the very candidates they are working with quietly stay in touch if for nothing else than to ascertain the course to which they're directed.

The old school had a camaraderie with opponents which included a sense of humor, and often whimsical pranks in campaigns. It was give and take usually in good taste that provided some fun in some otherwise boring campaigns.

The current race for governor in Georgia is badly in need of some of the old touch. Campaigns are getting too scientific and there isn't as much fun any more. It's gotten so bad even the candidates mothers can't recognize the make overs.

Can anyone remember the old courthouse rallies and the tree sitters?

A good manager or consultant watches all the indices. There is one that pops up that excites what's left of the deviishness in me. The Zogby poll recently reported some interesting figures for the Georgia governors race. They show Sonny Perdue short of a majority, around 47%. In old time practice, with the power of incumbency he should be sitting at over 50%. This is particularly true in light of a very slow start by his major opponent, Mark Taylor.

But wait, when you realize Sonny became the GOP candidate four years ago by a whopping victory of 50.6% in the primary, there may be a clue. Further, he beat Governor Barnes by around 105,000 votes that included a huge constituency of old line conservative Georgians he no longer has, as most them feel he deceived them. [Sonny LIED]

Now we come to the interesting factor in the Zogby numbers. The Libertarian candidate for governor, Michael Hayes, is polling around 8%. If this increased just a tad, to around 12% or more, there is a possibility the race would be thrown into a run off.

If such happened, it would be an embarrassment to Georgia Republicans, but even as large an embarrassment to the neocons in the Bush administration who hold the strings in Perdue's campaign.

The key numbers to watch will be whether both Hayes and Taylor increase their percentages sufficiently to keep Perdue's vote to under 50%.

Is it a long shot? It sure is, but with some creative campaigning, it could happen. In my view, it's about the best chance Taylor has at this point. It is also an opportunity for the Libertarians to establish themselves quite firmly, and put themselves in a catbird's seat if indeed their support contributed to a run off.

Stranger things have happened in Georgia politics.

Now that I've stirred this pot a little, I'll just go back to where old campaigners go and watch the passing parade.

Jeff Davis is a retired radio-TV journalist living in Gainesville, GA. Active in civic and political affairs, he is past president of the Georgia Jaycees, former vice president of the US and the world Jaycees, former campaign chairman of the Georgia Republican party. He voluntarily serves as chairman of the Georgia Heritage Council. He is a collateral descendant of President Jefferson Davis.

Related Links
SONNY LIED: the Official Georgia State Sign - X-Files

Sonny LIED to US - sonnyLIED2.us – the website

Recent Zogby Poll