Conventional political wisdom points to a Karen Handel whitewash in the August 10 Republican gubernatorial nomination run-off election. The former secretary of state clobbered her five opponents in the opening July 20 round, winning an astonishing one of every three GOP votes. 

Handel undoubtedly peaked at just the right time while seizing the momentum. Handel beat her last standing rival, former Congressman Nathan Deal, by nearly 15 percentage points, with a sweeping victory in virtually every major metro county in the state. She amassed a near incredible 60 percent plurality in Fulton County, her home base, alone.

In the handful of big counties she did lose, she finished second. And Handel’s got star power on her side, as well, like the "The Force" in Star Wars. For example, 2008 Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin is coming to town to campaign for her on the final push weekend. Remember when Palin crisscrossed the state for then embattled Sen. Saxby Chambliss on the day before his December run-off with Democrat Jim Martin in 2008? Chambliss’ slim weekend lead over Martin burgeoned to near double digits in the 24 hours after the former Alaska governor's one day, five-city campaign marathon on his behalf. Also, Handel has likely 2010 presidential contender Mitt Romney, who is very popular in the Atlanta metro area, in her corner. So it's a Handel love-fest juggernaut "get out the party hats and pop the champagne" blowout on August 10, right?

Wrong: troubled turbulence lies beneath the calm surface. Handel's campaign has some real sieves, as several unanswered questions linger, threatening to derail the Handel bandwagon into the proverbial election night ditch.

Handel Question 1:

Ask yourself this: if you, or someone you know, did not vote for Handel in the first go around, why would they vote for her on the second ballot? Let’s go through the candidates. Chapman? No shot. McBerry? No way. Oxendine? Forget about it. Johnson? Doubtful -- especially with the popular coastal Congressman from Savannah, Rep. Jack Kingston, now solidly behind Deal. Deal? He’ll not lose a single voter who shows up again.

Handel Question 2:

One of newly minted Democrat gubernatorial nominee Roy Barnes’ TV ads during the primary mocked the state’s Republican leadership, claiming they’ve advocated whacky right-wing policies that have made Georgia a

"laughing stock." Well, although the Peach State is the ninth largest in the country, it’s ranked 48th or 49th in education, depending on the survey. If Handel were to win the governorship, and Lt. Governor Casey Cagle wins re-election, neither of the top two government executives and political leaders in Georgia would hold a college degree. Won’t Barnes have a field day with that one? I can see it now: "Georgia: The 'No Diploma' State."

Handel Question 3:

Why won't Handel release her high school transcripts? Her opponent, Deal, has offered to release all of his educational records. What's up?

Handel Question 4:

Handel is from Fulton County, serving as its County Commission Chairman for four years. Why has the entire North Fulton State House delegation, save Wendell Willard (R-Sandy Springs), abandoned her candidacy? Why is Speaker Pro-Tem Jan Jones (R-Milton), the most powerful woman in Georgia, making robo calls for Deal? Why has former Speaker Mark Burkhalter given Deal the maximum contribution allowed by law, and nothing to Handel? Why is Chuck Martin (R-Alpharetta) walking door to door in his house district for Deal? Why has the sage and savvy Harry Geisinger (R-Roswell) a veteran of the Reagan administration, a candidate for governor once himself, and a neighbor of Handel’s, working the phones for Deal? Don't they know her best?

Handel Question 5:

Why has Handel now refused to debate Deal across the state, after her one and only forum last Saturday night in Dalton? She wiggled out of most of the early GOP debates by refusing to share a stage with Ray McBerry, due to an alleged inappropriate relationship he was rumored to have had, although no charges were ever filed. What’s her excuse now? What’s she afraid of?

Handel Question 6:

Why does the Handel, the "Bring It On" woman, complain about negative ads, when the only two TV ads she's run are highly negative in nature? Is that not duplicitous?

Handel Question 7:

If Handel is set to dominate Fulton County, than why did she direct mail out a scurrilous four-page color brochure that hit my mailbox on Saturday? It’s titled, “Investigative Journal,” and sports the headline: “Nathan Deal – One Of The Most Corrupt Members of Congress.” The “Journal” goes on for four pages, trashing and disparaging Deal. But guess who paid for it? Yep, Karen Handel for Governor, that’s who. If you think Karen is going to play nice with her adversaries if she makes it to the governor’s mansion, well, you’ll have a rude awakening coming. Cross this woman, and they’ll be hell to pay. The retribution, retaliation and payback will likely make former governor Barnes’ version of it look like Mister Rogers. The bully “pulpit” will be discarded. But the “bully” will reign supreme.

Handel Question 8:

Handel got hit with an ethics complaint this week, alleging $13,200 was wrongfully paid to gubernatorial campaign staffers out of her secretary of state political bank account. The filer, Bill Simon, a campaign sign and button vendor, charged that she unlawfully used funds from her Secretary of State’s account to finance the first three months of her campaign for governor. As proof he released an email thread between Steve Handel and himself. Handel spokesman Dan McLagan, the guy who actually pocketed most of the money, responded to the allegation by describing Simon as a "discredited source of information" and “a campaign vendor who has taken payments from Handel’s opponents.”

But wait, Handel has campaigned on a reform platform that has vigorously advocated restrictions on the transfers of cash from one political campaign to another. Is this not disingenuous? Are there now two sets of rules, one for Karen and then one for all the other schmucks?

Handel Question 9:

After her phenomenal primary victory, why is she now tied with Deal in the first statewide poll that was released, instead of comfortably ahead, where she should be, after making mincemeat of the field?

These questions swirl under the surface like a powerful undercurrent in a flowing waterway that you can't see until you are submerged. The longer the questions go unanswered, the better Nathan Deal does on August 10.

The tidal wave may crest for Deal, come Election Day.

JUDGE BAXTER TO MARY: NO BALLOT ACCESS FOR YOU!

The Mary Norwood ballot access saga finally ended on Tuesday, when Fulton County Superior Court Judge Jerry Baxter ruled Norwood’s failure to meet a qualifying deadline meant she would not be on the ballot this fall competing for the county chairmanship. The battle may now be taking an emotional toll on the feisty former Atlanta mayoral candidate. Norwood said after meeting with her family and close advisors that she would not appeal the decision, nor would she run as a write-in candidate. So it’s "Christmas in July" for incumbent John Eaves, and “Black Tuesday” for Robb Pitts’ GOP opponent Lori Henry, who needed Norwood on the ballot to bring her much needed independent support ITP.

PRESTON SMITH COMES ON POLITICAL INSIGHTER TV SHOW LIVE, ANSWERS TOUGH QUESTIONS

GOP candidate for Attorney General Preston Smith, in a run-off battle with Sam Olens, came on our cable TV show live on Friday night to answer some tough questions about several alleged inappropriate relationships that were reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last week. The AJC released his divorce documents, which they obtained through an Open Records Request. These contained some unflattering personal details concerning charges of infidelity, made by his former wife. One of the women Smith was reportedly romantically involved with was an intern on his state senate staff payroll, for $200 per month.

We asked the former state senator several direct questions, including why he didn'[t seal the documents, like former House Speaker Glenn Richardson did; and how he has reconciled his Baptist ministry with his behavior. Frankly, his responses were candid, forthright and straightforward, without any spin.

Also on our show this week is Fulton County Commissioner Lynne Riley and Chuck Martin.

To catch the show, you can tune into Comcast channel 25, Friday through Thursday, at 10AM, 6:30PM or 10:00PM. We air live on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. Don’t have cable? Dump the dish. It’s an eyesore, anyway.

ROSWELL RPD ED WILLIAMS TO RETIRE?

Sources inside Roswell City Hall have confirmed that Roswell’s top cop, Chief Ed Williams, is set to retire. Williams has been under fire for some time, from charges of blatant nepotism to handing out DUI quotas to his night shift officers. We’re told that Mayor Jere Wood was about done with Williams' shenanigans, and may have pressured him to ride his famous motorcycle out of Dodge, ASAP.

Sources say one leading candidate to replace Williams is Nick Marinelli, who served as interim police chief in DeKalb County for eight months.

I don['t know who Marinelli is, but Roswell needs to recruit Public Safety Director Gary George away from Alpharetta, pay him whatever he wants, and then get out of his way. He'd clean up the whole Roswell PD mess faster than you can say, "Here's your hat, Ed, what’s your hurry?"