By John Fredericks / STAFF

State Rep. Edward Lindsey (R-Buckhead), who strongly considered running for the Republican nomination for Attorney General, has announced he will stay put in the Ga. House, saying, “I like my present political job.”

Lindsey's surprise exit now essentially clears the field for Cobb County Chairman Sam Olens (R), who announced his candidacy for the top lawyer in Georgia a few weeks ago in lieu of a possible gubernatorial bid. Olens is now the prohibitive favorite to win the GOP AG nomination and is the undisputed front runner at this junction to replace incumbent Thurbert Baker (D), who is running for governor.

"I looked at this race very hard, but after careful thought, I have decided against running for Attorney General in 2010 and instead will continue focusing in the Georgia House on the particular needs of my constituents in Atlanta and Sandy Springs and the broader difficult challenges facing all Georgians today," Lindsey said.

Shafer drops Out of Lt. gov. Race

State Senator David Shafer (R-D48), although widely acknowledged by political insiders as having a shot at defeating incumbent Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle in next July's GOP primary, has opted to stay in the state senate and run for reelection instead.

Shafer's decision now clears the field for Cagle to run for re-election unopposed for the nomination.

St. Sen. Eric Johnson (R-Savannah), the other former Lt. Gov. candidate, is running for governor.

Cagle, who had successful surgery on his back last week, is friends with Shafer, and that dynamic may have played into Shafer's final decision. Shafer originally recruited Calge to run for state senator ten years ago.

In a prepared statement, Shafer said, "Today I am fully suspending my campaign for Lieutenant Governor with the intention of seeking re-election to the State Senate. I will always be grateful to those who have so generously supported my candidacy. I am especially proud of the endorsements from my colleagues in the Georgia General Assembly and our strong showing in the various Republican straw polls."

Shafer also said that he only entered the race because it was an empty seat, and he never intended to challenge his friend. "Public service is, by definition, about serving others, not the positions or titles that we want for ourselves, Shafer added.

Cagle is still not out of the woods. He may yet see another challenge to his nomination as the next several weeks unfold. Various polls around the state have depicted him as vulnerable in a GOP primary.

Perdue One Step Closer To Political Goal

Ga. Gov. Sonny Perdue (R), who sources have said is determined to clear the primary field for as many GOP statewide candidates as possible to avoid bruising primary battles, may be getting his way, albeit by default. State Sen. David Shafer (R-Duluth) pulled out of Lt. Gov. race last Monday, leaving Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, who is successfully recovering from back surgery, so far unopposed. The crown jewel of his Perdue's strategy appears to center on convincing enough Republicans to support his favored gubernatorial candidate, Sec. of State Karen Handel, and forcing others out of the race. So far that piece of his supposed plan is in tatters, as Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, Congressman Nathan Deal (R-Gainsville), State Senator Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) and House Rep. Austin Scott (R-Tifton) don't appear to be going away.

Perdue, in his relentless effort to play kingmaker in Georgia's upcoming 2010 statewide elections, may be concerned about stiff challenges by Democrats across the statewide ballot. Former Gov. Roy Barnes is now seriously considering a run and his entrance into the fray would add to a formidable Democrat field that already includes House Minority Leader Dubose Porter, Retired Ga. National Guard General David Poythress and Baker. Also lurking in the shadows is former Dekalb CEO Vernon Jones, who lost a runoff for the Democrat U.S. Senate nomination to Jim Martin last August.

Perdue, who's legacy as Georgia's first Republican governor since Reconstruction is suspect on the accomplishment scale, most likely does not want to be further tarnished by a slew of Democrats winning statewide races in his wake.

What he couldn't get accomplished as the state's chief executive he may want to get done politically, which is what he does best: win elections.