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Ralph Reed Loses Support in GA

by TChris

Former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed counted on the support of the religious right in his campaign to become lieutenant governor of Georgia. He may still command some loyalty, but conservatives who were once willing to throw some cash his way seem to be put off by his connection to Jack Abramoff.

Reed's little-known rival for the Republican nomination, fellow conservative Casey Cagle, is outpacing him in fundraising, and a recent poll shows Cagle could be as strong a candidate as Reed against a Democrat.

"Early on, he monopolized fundraising, he called upon his ties with other Republicans and he had a huge advantage," said Merle Black, a political scientist at Emory University. "But now, as these allegations have come out, it's hurt his ability to raise money and made other Republicans nervous. He's clearly in a much weaker position now than he was months ago."

Reed has lost the support of the Republican establishment in Georgia.

On Friday, 21 of Georgia's 34 Republican state senators - all Cagle supporters - signed a letter urging Reed to withdraw from the race, saying his involvement in the Abramoff scandal "threatens to impact the entire Republican ticket."

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