With Georgia Republican Phil Gingrey running for the U.S. Senate next year, national pundits have long assumed that former congressman —and 2008 Libertarian presidential nominee — Bob Barr was the runaway favorite for the GOP nomination in Gingrey's open 11th District (Cobb County).
But this scenario may have changed last week, when high-tech businesswoman Tricia Pridemore got into the race.
With husband Michael, Pridemore, 41, launched a marketing automation software company that now services several Fortune 500 companies.
She is also a close ally of Georgia Republican Gov. Nathan Deal and served as executive director of the Governor's Office of Workforce Development.
Deal has demonstrated he is not shy about helping his allies in contested primaries, as he did last year when he backed then-State Rep. Doug Collins for Congress in his winning primary bout with radio talk show hostess Martha Zollar.
Also in the race for the nomination are State Rep. Ed Lindsey and State Sen. Barry Loudermilk.
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax.
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