Outgoing U.S. House Rep. Nathan Deal has pledged to keep opposing the health care reform bill as he runs for the Peach State governor's seat.
"As I cast what might be the last votes of my congressional career, I am pleased to say that as I pursue my full-time activities to become the governor of the great state of Georgia I will cast my vote in opposition to this bill," he told House members Sunday night.
After casting his "no" vote, the Georgia Republican resigned from the House, officials in Mr. Deal's Washington, D.C., office said early Monday.
If the health reform bill becomes law and Mr. Deal gains the governor's seat, he said he will commit "to making sure the people of my state are not subjected to the unconstitutional individual mandate, and that my state is not subject to the unconstitutional mandate to expand our Medicaid rolls."
Mr. Deal, 67, announced March 1 that he would resign from his House seat on March 5 to seek the governor's post, but postponed his departure, saying he wanted to vote against the health reform measure after the Obama administration reinvigorated its efforts earlier this month.
Harris Blackwood, Mr. Deal's campaign spokesman, said supporters applauded Mr. Deal's opposition to the reform bill and his decision to hold his congressional seat until the vote.
Mr. Deal's congressional campaign finance account was closed last year with remaining money being "given to other congressional candidates and other Republican causes," Mr. Blackwood said.
According to records, Mr. Deal has contributed $6,100 to his own bid for governor, which is the limit.
Mr. Deal joins candidates Jeff Chapman, Eric Johnson, Ray McBerry, Austin Scott, state Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine and former Secretary of State Karen Handel in the Republican primary on July 20, records show.
University of Georgia political scientist Charles Bullock said Mr. Deal's decision to stay put for Sunday's vote will probably help him in the governor's race in some voters' eyes.
But some people "believe that he should've stayed in Congress to support Republican positions on other legislation rather than campaign full time," Dr. Bullock said.
Still others might view Mr. Deal's Washington connections in a negative light, he said.
The ability to campaign full-time should make him "much more of a political force," but it doesn't make him a front-runner, Dr. Bullock said.
"I would think that any kind of polling would show that John Oxendine is still the front-runner," Dr. Bullock said.