A group responsible in part for reshaping a Florida election has thrown its efforts into North Georgia.
The Washington, D.C.-based Club for Growth debuted a television ad last week slamming one candidate in Georgia's 9th District congressional special election.
The group's ad accuses Gainesville dentist Dr. Lee Hawkins of "siding with liberals" in the state Senate and says he would not sign a pledge to repeal health care legislation. In the end, the ad determines he is "not conservative, wrong for Congress."
The group endorses fellow Republican candidate Tom Graves on its site.
Dr. Hawkins and Mr. Graves, along with six other candidates, are running for the seat vacated by former U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, who is running for governor.
The Hawkins campaign released a strongly worded statement calling the ads "sinister" and saying they are an attempt by an outside group to get North Georgians to "elect a weak career politician they can control like Tom Graves."
"Georgia voters won't be fooled by D.C. special interest groups trying to force their candidate onto North Georgia voters," Dr. Hawkins wrote in the statement.
In an interview Monday, Dr. Hawkins, a former state senator from Gainesville, stood by the statement, again using the word "sinister" to describe the effort. He said he never received a pledge to repeal health care legislation, but he campaigns against government-run health care everywhere he stops.
"None of it's true," he said of the ad.
Mr. Graves, a real estate developer and a former state representative from Gordon County, said he had no idea the ad was coming out and had not seen it, but he noted his name is not mentioned anywhere in the message.
In an interview Tuesday, he said Dr. Hawkins has a history of ugly campaigns and is disappointed by the accusations. His campaign put out a statement painting Dr. Hawkins as the candidate more likely to be controlled by special interests.
"It just shows us his campaign is not where they want it to be," Mr. Graves said.
Mike Connolly, a spokesman for the Club for Growth, said the group interviewed the candidates and decided to endorse Mr. Graves. He said the ad, which he expects to be the only one in North Georgia before the special election, targets Dr. Hawkins because the club sees the dentist as Mr. Graves' "principal challenger."
DISTRICT 9 CANDIDATESChris Cates, Republican, BlairsvilleTom Graves Jr., Republican, RangerLee Hawkins, Republican, GainesvilleBert Loftman, Republican, JasperBill Stephens, Republican, CummingSteve Tarvin, Republican, ChickamaugaMike Freeman, Democrat, OakwoodEdward "Eugene" Moon, independent, GainesvilleSource: Federal Election CommissionSPECIAL ELECTIONAn election to fill the remainder of former U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal's term is set for Tuesday.
Additionally, Dr. Hawkins' voting patterns are more moderate than the group would like, he said.
"His voting record is clearly less conservative than Graves," Mr. Connolly said.
He said Dr. Hawkins has had the opportunity to sign the Club for Growth's "Repeal It" pledge like any of the other 300 candidates who have signed it.
Aside from the endorsement of Mr. Graves, the organization lists 10 other endorsements on its site, including Robin Smith, who's running for the 3rd District congressional seat in Tennessee. That seat is being given up by U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., who's running for governor.
Mr. Connolly said the group picks 15 to 25 federal races every year to select favorites and produce advertisements.
Mr. Graves said that, regardless of whom the group endorses, the Club for Growth's interest makes a statement about the 9th District.
"It shows the importance of this race," he said.
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