Governor runoff remains close

ATLANTA – The GOP gubernatorial runoff remains too close to call.

With 87 percent of precincts reporting, former U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal garnered 50.3 percent of the vote to former Secretary of State Karen Handel’s 49.6 percent. However, only 32 percent of precincts in both Fulton and Gwinnett counties had reported by about 10:30 p.m. – districts which a number of pundits say could favor Handel.

The winner will face former Gov. Roy Barnes, a Democrat, and John Monds, a Libertarian, in the November general election.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich endorsed Deal, while former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin endorsed Handel. The trio’s foray into Georgia politics prompted some political pundits to couch the race as a proxy campaign in advance of the 2012 presidential election.

Current Gov. Sonny Perdue, who cannot run because of term limits, did not endorse a candidate.