LAT: Ralph Reed Hopes Georgia Voters Keep Faith, Forget Abramoff

[DeepModem Mom]

Reed Hopes Voters Keep Faith, Forget Abramoff
His foe in Georgia's GOP primary criticizes the PR work he did for his lobbyist friend.
By Richard Fausset, Times Staff Writer
July 18, 2006

....For years, Reed has been the clean-cut, boyish face of the conservative Christian movement — a behind-the-scenes whiz whom many credit with helping the GOP solidify power in Washington. Now, however, it appears he will need every ounce of that talent to survive his bid for the powerful post of lieutenant governor.

His opponent, conservative state Sen. Casey Cagle, has hammered Reed over his connections to Abramoff, the once-powerful Washington insider who in January pleaded guilty to fraud, tax evasion and bribery.

Specifically, Cagle has criticized public relations jobs in which Reed rallied Christian conservatives to thwart regional gambling initiatives. In some cases, that work was funded by competing gambling interests represented by Abramoff, according to the conclusions of a U.S. Senate committee.

"Reed said gambling is immoral, but took millions of dollars from convicted felon Jack Abramoff to help casinos," a recent Cagle TV ad said, referring to Reed's "record of betrayal."

When Reed, 45, announced his candidacy in February 2005, most analysts considered the primary a cakewalk, given his prominence and talent for grass-roots organizing. Now the outcome is anyone's guess: One recent poll of likely Republican voters by the independent firm InsiderAdvantage had the two candidates tied at 43%, with 13% undecided....

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-reed18jul18,0,7794507.story?coll=la-home-nation

[Maestro]

1. RR is such a hypocrite!

He's just a political opportunist who will say anything to pander to whomever he feels he needs to ingratiate himself. What a creep to put it mildly!

[Arugula Latte]

2. Aaaaaaaaand it didn't work.

hee hee! :)