Last updated 5:30PM ET
May 18, 2013
WABE Election Coverage
WABE Election Coverage
Interview with Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, Part 2: Transportation Sales Tax This July, voters around the state will decide whether they want to tax themselves a penny on the dollar, to pay for regional transportation projects. The "T-SPLOST" is very controversial; polls show it might not pass in the metro Atlanta area. Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed is a strong supporter of the T-SPLOST. In part 2 of a conversation with WABE's Denis O'Hayer, Reed defended the tax, and rejected calls for a delay in the vote.
Romney's Georgia supporters promote tax plan Conference calls in Georgia and across the country came after Romney announced a plan to cut all tax rates by 20%.
Interview with Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, Part 1: Sewer Tax Vote and Atlanta's Water Future On March 6th, Atlanta voters will decide whether or not to extend the city's penny-on-the-dollar sales tax, to pay for the major overhaul of the Atlanta sewer system. Mayor Kasim Reed is campaigning hard for a "yes" vote. He took questions about the "MOST" tax, and about Atlanta's water future, in part 1 of a conversation with WABE's Denis O'Hayer.
Gingrich holds slim Georgia edge Based on a new Insider Advantage poll, it's unclear who will win Georgia's Republican Presidential Primary next month.
Politics, Religion, and the Santorum Campaign: A Conversation with Emory Political Scientist Andra Gillespie On Sunday, Feb. 19th, Republican presidential contender Rick Santorum was in metro Atlanta. He spoke at a big suburban church, and continued to emphasize the theme of religious conservatism in his campaign. WABE's Denis O'Hayer spoke with Emory University political scientist Andra Gillespie about whether the always-volatile mix of religion and politics will be a winning formula for Santorum in the GOP primaries, and (should he win the nomination) in the general election in November.
Can Newt Gingrich Lose His Former Home State on Super Tuesday? A Talk with InsiderAdvantage CEO Matt Towery This week, the GOP presidential hopefuls stepped up their Georgia campaigns, ahead of the March 6th vote. With 76 delegates, Georgia has more than any of the other Super Tuesday states. It's also the old home of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. But the recent surge by former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, and the organization of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, mean Georgia is not guaranteed for Gingrich. WABE's Denis O'Hayer spoke with pollster Matt Towery of InsiderAdvantage.
New T-SPLOST Postponement Legislation Raises New Questions About the Prospects for the Transportation Plan Several prominent Republicans in the state House have just introduced two measures which would halt this summer's scheduled vote on a regional transportation sales tax, or T-SPLOST. As WABE's Denis O'Hayer reports, the move raised more questions about the prospects for the T-SPLOST, and about the support of state leaders.
If Gingrich Loses Florida, Can Georgia's GOP Voters Help Him? A Talk with Emory Political Scientist Merle Black As Florida's Republican voters get ready for their presidential primary, late polls show former Georgia Congressman, and former House Speaker, Newt Gingrich trailing former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. But Gingrich has vowed to continue, even if he loses Florida. He's counting on the March 6th Super Tuesday states, including his former home state of Georgia, to help him. But will Georgia make a difference by then? WABE's Denis O'Hayer spoke with Emory political scientist Merle Black.
Why Some Local Leaders Outside Atlanta are Not Pushing the T-SPLOST: A Conversation with Newnan Mayor Keith Brady While Governor Nathan Deal, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, and other metro Atlanta leaders have started an all-out push for a regional transportation sales tax, some local leaders on the fringes of the Atlanta area are torn. Many of their voters oppose a penny-on-the-dollar sales tax increase to pay for regional transportation projects. Voters will decide in July. WABE's Denis O'Hayer spoke with Keith Brady, who has served as Mayor of Newnan since 1994.
Race, Words and the GOP Primary in South Carolina: A Conversation with Emory Political Scientist Andra Gillespie As the Republican presidential contest in South Carolina entered its final week, race entered the exchanges and Monday night debate among the remaining candidates. That prompted yet another debate, over whether some of them were using racially-charged code words and phrases. WABE's Denis O'Hayer spoke with Emory University political scientist Andra Gillespie, who has studied racial politics in the U.S.
To Iowa and Beyond! Latest Polling Numbers, and a Look Ahead, with InsiderAdvantage CEO Matt Towery WABE's Denis O'Hayer gets the last-minute Iowa polling numbers, and a look at what lies ahead for the survivors of the Tuesday night caucuses, from Matt Towery, president and CEO of the Atlanta-based consulting and polling firm InsiderAdvantage.
What Will Cain's Endorsement Mean?: A Conversation with Emory Political Scientist Andra Gillespie Now that Georgia resident Herman Cain has ended his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, the remaining GOP candidates are scrambling to get his endorsement. WABE's Denis O'Hayer spoke with Emory University political scientist Andra Gillespie about where Cain's supporters will go now, and how much his endorsement might mean to the person who eventually gets it.
With Cain's Withdrawl, Georgia GOP Tries to Maintain Appeal to African-American Conservatives On Saturday, Dec. 3rd, Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain announced he was suspending his campaign, and will endorse another candidate within a few days. Cain, who lives in Stockbridge, blamed the effect that sexual misconduct allegations have had on his family. As WABE's Denis O'Hayer reports, Cain's departure complicates Republican efforts to attract more African-American voters.
Herman Cain Considers His Future: A Conversation with Sen. Joshua McKoon, Cain's Georgia Campaign Chairman Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain returned to Georgia Friday, Dec. 2nd, to talk to his wife about the future of his campaign, following allegations from an Atlanta woman that she had a 13-year affair with Cain. WABE's Denis O'Hayer spoke with the Cain campaign's Georgia chairman, Republican State Senator Joshua McKoon of Columbus.
Newt Gingrich Tries to Build on Recent Gains; Sen. Saxby Chambliss Drops in GA Poll: A Talk with Pollster Matt Towery Over the Thanksgiving weekend, Newt Gingrich picked up a key endorsement in the New Hampshire GOP presidential primary. Meanwhile, back in Georgia, Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss got some bad news from a recent InsiderAdvantage poll, after his work in Washington on the debt crisis. WABE's Denis O'Hayer spoke with InsiderAdvantage president and CEO Matt Towery.
When Will Sunday Sales Start? The answer to that question all depends on where you live and where you buy.
Sunday Sales & E-SPLOST Pass Most cities and counties in Metro Atlanta passed the measures overwhelmingly.
Sunday Sales & E-SPLOST: Voters Weigh In The two issues are the most common ones on ballots across Metro Atlanta today.
Sunday Sales & E-SPLOST Dominate Election Ballots The questions of paying a penny sales tax for education related expenses and buying alcohol on Sundays are on many Metro Atlanta ballots on this election day.
A Conversation with Southern Baptist Convention President Bryant Wright on the GOP Debate Over the Mormon Church In the last week, the Republican presidential contest at times turned into a debate about the Mormon faith, after a Baptist pastor from Dallas, TX said that one of the GOP hopefuls, Mitt Romney was "part of a cult." Romney is a Mormon. WABE's Denis O'Hayer spoke with Rev. Bryant Wright, senior pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta. Wright is also the current President of the Southern Baptist Convention, which has some 16 million members.