May07

electoral-vote.com

Dem 51

   

GOP 49

Duncan Endorses Biden

Geoff Duncan, a Republican who served as Georgia's lieutenant governor from 2019-23, wrote quite the op-ed for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, announcing that he will be voting for Joe Biden, and explaining his reasoning. Here's the money passage:

It's disappointing to watch an increasing number of Republicans fall in line behind former president Donald Trump. This includes some of his fiercest detractors, such as U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu and former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr, who raised eyebrows during a recent interview by vowing to support the "Republican ticket."

This mentality is dead wrong.

Yes, elections are a binary choice. Yes, serious questions linger about President Biden's ability to serve until the age of 86. His progressive policies aren't to conservatives' liking.

But the GOP will never rebuild until we move on from the Trump era, leaving conservative (but not angry) Republicans like me no choice but to pull the lever for Biden. At the same time, we should work to elect GOP congressional majorities to block his second-term legislative agenda and provide a check and balance.

Duncan also concludes with this: "Unlike Trump, I've belonged to the GOP my entire life. This November, I am voting for a decent person I disagree with on policy over a criminal defendant without a moral compass." Ouch.

Does this actually mean anything, or is it just an interesting anomaly? After all, there are high-profile apostates in every election. Georgia, in particular, seems to produce them with great regularity. Think Zell Miller, for example.

Truth be told, we can't answer that question. But we'll tell you a few ways it could end up meaning something:

1. If Duncan proves to be representative of some percentage of Georgia Republicans. In such an evenly divided state, not too many people have to cross the aisle to hand the election to the other party.
   
   
2. If Duncan proves to be an avatar for some percentage of those people who are voting for Nikki Haley in the primaries. We still don't know exactly what those folks are planning to do in the general.
   
   
3. If Duncan somehow gives permission for other Republicans to speak out in this way, we could eventually reach a tipping point.
   
   
4. If Duncan is given a speaking slot at the DNC (just as Miller was at the RNC in 2004). The former lieutenant governor is making the kind of argument that might make some Republicans' ears prick up.

Mind you, we wouldn't bet money that Duncan's flip turns out to be a big deal. But it's worth mentioning, because it's not impossible. (Z)