The Deal for Governor campaign touts their candidate as the “Real Deal.” But now they might need to change it to: “Raw Deal.”Insiders know that Congress is a club. Everyone knows that politics is a tough business. Put the two together and you sometimes get a crucible – or a caldron.

U.S. Rep. Tom Price (6th-R) and former U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, from Gainesville, were Washington Republican colleagues for the last six years. Both are conservatives who fought their share of policy battles with the D.C. Democrats often in lockstep, like comrades in arms.But the former Congressman’s once-formidable gubernatorial campaign is now reeling from a major defection: Price, a conservative icon in North Fulton.An early Deal supporter, Price changed gubernatorial aspirant horses Monday and endorsed former Sec. of State Karen Handel in the GOP primary, abandoning Deal, who he backed for the last year. Price and Handel are Roswell residents.

DEAL WHEELS, REELS AND FIRES

Price said he contacted Deal about a month ago and told his former colleague he was withdrawing his support. The North Fulton Congressman, known for his unwavering courage, unabashed candor and a personable, yet forthright and straightforward approach, didn’t elaborate on the details of that discussion. “This is just part of what happens in a long election cycle,” the former Roswell surgeon affirmed. “There are a lot of twists and turns along the way, and no one can predict a year or so out in politics what will happen.”

But Deal didn’t buy it. “As a native Georgian, I was brought up to believe that a person’s word is his bond, which is why I’m grateful to the conservative Georgians who’ve remained loyal to our cause,” the former Washington legislator said. “It’s their support that has made me the only Republican with a seven point lead over Roy Barnes.”

One North Fulton Republican legislator, not affiliated with a gubernatorial campaign, termed the switch “shocking” and says it was out of character for Price. “Loyalty in is now the fastest diminishing commodity in politics,” said the Gold Dome veteran, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “Its one thing to change who you support, but another if it’s your colleague.”

Reading between the lines, the Price change of heart -- and mind -- does not bode well for Deal.

But Deal also questioned his former supporter’s political judgment. “Maybe now Tom can try to help Karen understand why her support of gay adoption offends the conservative values of Georgians throughout the state, let alone those who vote in the Republican primary.”

Deal spokesman Brian Robinson added, “I’m perplexed as to why the leader of the highly conservative U.S. House Study Committee would endorse the only liberal Republican in the race, Karen Handel.” Robinson added that Republican primary voters would eventually scope out Handel’s voting record. “Karen talked one way in North Fulton but another way when she was downtown,” Robinson charged.

BLOW FOR DEAL A BOON FOR HANDEL

Handel spokesman Dan McLagan said that his candidate was “very excited to have the endorsement,” and defined it as a watershed event. “Congressman Price’s endorsement adds additional enthusiasm to our already surging campaign,” he stated. McLagan predicted that Price’s support would further bolster Handel’s already high standing with area conservatives.
“I’ve known Karen a long time and we’ve worked together on many initiatives,” Price said. “Karen continually displays the leadership and courage to be a very effective governor for the people of Georgia.” Price added that Handel has been extremely successful in everything she’s done.

“Karen will fight for transparency and accountability in our government and has the vision we need to create jobs, cut taxes, improve education and finally tackle the transportation challenges faced by so many Georgians,” he concluded.

The popular conservative lawmaker, running unopposed this November for a fourth term, typically amasses over 70 percent of the vote in his Republican-dominated district. He’s a craved campaign event speaker and recently has become a Tea Party darling.

Price relayed that Handel was not only the best choice for governor, but also the lone Republican candidate with the best chance of defeating the Democrat nominee in November, whoever it may be.deal’s metro base evaporates
Deal has lost most of his elected official metropolitan support base through defections or retirement, including former Ga. House Speakers Mark Burkhalter and Glenn Richardson, House Majority Whip Jerry Keen, and U.S. Congressman John Linder, who all retired, and now Price, who has jumped ship.

DEAL: WILL THE REAL HANDEL PLEASE STAND UP?

The Deal campaign is in a tough battle with Handel, and possibly former state senator Eric Johnson, for second place in the July 20 primary. The eventual runner up earns the privilege of taking a shot at upending frontrunner John Oxendine in what is sure to be a GOP gubernatorial August run-off. 

So they wasted no time in taking the gloves off, charging that former Fulton County Commissioner Handel is really a "liberal in conservative clothing.”  Deal cited a 2003 interview with “Southern Voice,” a since bankrupt gay publication, where Handel allegedly admits she has “issues” with the Republican platform.

“I don’t think, perhaps as a party, [Republicans] have been as open-minded about things as we should have,” Handel was quoted as saying in that interview, now eight years old. “Even though I’m a Republican, I don’t agree 100 percent with the things in the platform.” But Handel has since denied the interview’s legitimacy, and the credibility of the former “free” shopper is in question.

Other allegations by the Deal camp on several of Handel’s former positions concerning gay rights could not be authenticated by press time.

But Robinson predicted that all the facts would come out soon. “Karen won’t be able to spin to her way out of all this once the evidence” comes to bear, he says. “She has a history of political pandering, of saying one thing to one group and something totally different to another group for political expediency,” he charged. As for various gay groups who may have supported Handel’s past candidacies, Robinson said bluntly: “She gets their support and takes their money. You be the judge.”

HANDEL: MUCH TO DO ABOUT NOTHING

But McLagan dismissed the charges out of hand. In an email to supporters, McLagan said, “Nathan Deal is clearly worried, as his response was to attack Tom Price’s integrity and charge Karen with an old, untrue statement. We will see more of this as our opponents get more desperate.”

Handel said allegations that she’s on the record supporting gay adoption are “old” and “untrue.” McLagan asserted that the charges were a re-hash of the 2006 GOP primary campaign from her then run-off opponent, Bill Stephens.

“They were untrue then and they are untrue now,” the spokesman said. Handel torched Stephens in that election by nearly two to one.

When asked specifically about Deal’s charges of Handel’s “closet liberalism,” McLagan was direct. “Nathan Deal is a former Bill Clinton Democrat who supported a Party platform that included taxpayer funded abortions and gays in the military. He’s been listed by a non-partisan Washington watchdog group as one of the five most corrupt members of Congress. Congressman Deal is a desperate candidate whose accusations are false and laughable. This is what a failing campaign does just before they wander off to die.”