Wealthy businessman David Perdue looks set to defeat three congressmen in Tuesday’s primary in Georgia for the seat of retiring GOP Sen. Saxby Chambliss, a new poll shows.
Perdue, the former chief executive of Dollar General Corp., was leading the field ahead of Georgia Reps. Jack Kingston, Paul Broun, and Phil Gingrey in last week's study by Saint Leo University in Florida, according to
The Wall Street Journal.
The poll showed that Perdue had 26 percent of the vote out of 689 likely primary voters, compared to 16 percent for Kingston, and 15 percent for former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel.
Broun and Gingrey, both doctors, were at the back of the pack, even though they were vocal opponents early on of the Affordable Care Act. Gingrey had led in early polling.
Perdue has stressed his business credentials over his rivals, touting his experience in turning around such troubled companies as Dollar General and the apparel and footwear company Reebok.
"We have an economic crisis," Perdue, who was virtually a political unknown when he entered the race last year, said in a weekend interview. "The debt, the economy and jobs are the No. 1 things people want to talk about in Georgia."
The primary winner must receive 50 percent of the vote, or there will be a July runoff between the two top candidates.
The GOP nominee will likely face Democratic front-runner Michelle Nunn, who has never held office. She is the daughter of former Democratic Sen. Sam Nunn.
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