The end of a long runoff campaign is in sight | Columbia County News-Times

For those who have endured Georgia’s longest runoff election ever, the July 22 finish line is finally coming into view.

Voters and candidates are learning there is a big difference between four weeks, which was how long these campaigns used to last, and nine weeks, the runoff duration ordered by federal Judge Steve Jones to give overseas voters more time to mail in their ballots.

The biggest race on the election ballot is the Senate Republican runoff between Rep. Jack Kingston and business executive David Perdue.

In the first weeks after the May 20 primary, Kingston appeared to have the momentum going his way. He secured endorsements from primary also-rans Karen Handel and Phil Gingrey, and the polls suggested he had a double-digit advantage over Perdue.

If this were the old days where runoff campaigns lasted three or four weeks, Kingston probably would have won easily over Perdue.

A nine-week campaign, however, provides time for the story line to change. The Atlanta newspapers dug up a story about Kingston receiving more than $80,000 in contributions from a Palestinian businessman with a criminal record who the federal government has been trying for several years to deport.

Kingston’s advisers returned the questionable donations, but recent polls show the campaign’s momentum may have shifted.

via The end of a long runoff campaign is in sight | Columbia County News-Times.