ATHENS, Ga. (AP) – Georgia Republicans found themselves face-to-face with three presidential hopefuls on Friday – and more are on the way, giving the state GOP hope that a new standard in presidential politics awaits as Southern states build a regional primary for 2016.
“It’s putting us on the map,” said Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp, architect of what’s being dubbed the “SEC primary,” a reference to college athletics’ Southeastern Conference.
The Republican National Committee allows states to vote in caucuses or primaries as early as March 1, after the first four: Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada. So far, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia have plans for that date. Alabama appears poised to join, and some Arkansas Republicans also support a March 1 date. North Carolina could end up close behind on March 8.
With a GOP field replete with established, well-financed politicians – to say nothing of super PACs that ensure tens of millions of dollars more – the second wave of primary states appears to have a genuine say in selecting a nominee and not merely follow the trend set by the early voting states.
Georgia has long been a source for presidential campaign money, mostly because of tremendous corporate and personal wealth in metro Atlanta. In 2012, the state generated $33 million in direct contributions to candidates, according to the Federal Elections Commission. But now, said Leo Smith, the state GOP’s minority engagement director, “we can actually influence national policy because these guys are coming to talk to us, to hear what we have to say.”