Now, voters will get their say on who they want as their party's nominee for governor.
The crowded Republican race was a brawl heading into the homestretch, with Karen Handel, John Oxendine and Nathan Deal the leading contenders to nab one of two spots in a likely Aug. 10 runoff.
In the Democratic contest, former Gov. Roy Barnes faced the first electoral test in his comeback bid. His most formidable challenger was Attorney General Thurbert Baker, who has the backing of former President Bill Clinton and is seeking to become Georgia's first black governor.
Handel the lone woman in the race was buoyed by the endorsement of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. The former secretary of state leapt to the top of the seven-person GOP field after Palin labeled her a ``pro-life, pro-Constitutionalist with a can-do attitude.''
Handel's attacks on what she labeled the state's political ``good ol' boys'' resonated with Patricia Webb, a 66-year-old voter from Norcross.
``One of the reasons I voted for Karen Handel is she is outside the cronyism,'' Webb said after casting her ballot for Handel, who is seeking to become the state's first female governor.
Deal countered with the support of former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a possible presidential contender in 2012.
Julie Windom, a Republican from Atlanta, voted for Deal but said Gingrich's support was not a major influence.
``Nathan's previous experience in Congress on health care issues he's very strong on those issues and understands health care financing and a lot about the system,'' Windom said after voting at an Atlanta church.
Oxendine, the state's longtime insurance commission, was the money leader throughout the campaign but a recent poll suggested his support was fading.
Oxendine did win the vote of third-grade teacher Sally McCarthy who said she likes his plan to scrap the state income tax.
The 39-year-old said she's not happy with the furloughs and layoffs that have resulted from state budget cuts to schools but understands the money has to ``come from some place.''
The three were among seven Republicans vying for their party's nomination.
Barnes was ousted in 2002 by Republican Sonny Perdue. His re-election defeat was fueled by teachers angry with his education reforms and others upset over his successful push to remove the Confederate battle symbol from the state's flag.
Barnes announced last spring that he would make another bid for the governor's mansion, saying he was upset the state was moving in the wrong direction. He ran a folksy but focused primary campaign attacking ruling Republicans in the state for neglecting big problems, like education and transportation, and concentrating instead on trivial legislation like allowing Georgians to keep their roadkill.
Several voters said they chose Barnes because he seemed to have the best chance of shattering the state's Republican grip on the state in November.
``I think he's got the best chance of beating a Republican, and I really want to see a Democrat in office,'' said Ward Bins, 38, who owns a web development company in Atlanta. ``I also do think he'll basically do a good job.''
Barnes and Baker were among seven Democrats on the ballot. The others were House Minority Leader DuBose Porter, former Georgia National Guard Commander David Poythress, ex-Ray City Mayor Carl Camon, state Rep. Randal Mangham and businessman Bill Bolton.
The other Republicans on the ballot were former state Sen. Eric Johnson, state Sen. Jeff Chapman, states' rights activist Ray McBerry and Wal-Mart sales associate Otis Putnam.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2010/7/230910