Thoughts on the 11th District Debate | InsiderAdvantageGeorgia

The Atlanta Press Club hosted a televised debate on Sunday for the Republican candidates running for Congress in the state’s 11th District, (the seat being vacated by Senate hopeful Phil Gingrey). We’re always skeptical of whether anyone watches these things or if they do any good in moving the polls, but it at least gives an interesting look into the state of the race just before the election.

An aside before we get into the debate itself, polling shows Loudermilk and Barr in good position to make a runoff. Lindsey seems to be the only other one with a shot, a fact which didn’t seem lost on the candidate from Sandy Springs as he came out with the most fire in his belly.

Barr to me was the big winner. He’s the wily veteran in this race, and it showed. First fending off a question about his past party switching shenanigans with relative ease, then tossing up a question to Mrozinski about veteran care that made both look sympathetic to the issues facing vets, Barr stayed out of any potential fights or ‘youtube moments’. He harped on his past experience in Congress and didn’t get dragged into the muddy waters that surround some of his history.

Loudermilk, the other frontrunner, caught the brunt of the attacks, particularly from Lindsey. After receiving questions from three candidates in a row he remarked that it was ‘pretty clear who the frontrunner is’. His first exchange with Ed Lindsey was probably the highlight of the debate, centering around his giving up his state Senate seat to run, thereby forcing his district to hold a costly special election.

via Thoughts on the 11th District Debate | InsiderAdvantageGeorgia.