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Georgia's David Perdue can't shake Romney comparisons in Senate race Georgia's David Perdue can't shake Romney comparisons in Senate race
(35 minutes later)
He is a handsome, polished, millionaire, descended from a dynastic family, campaigning as an outsider who will apply his business acumen in Washington. He is dismissed by his opponents as an elitist, self-funded businessman who lacks the common touch. And he has a habit of putting his foot in his mouth.He is a handsome, polished, millionaire, descended from a dynastic family, campaigning as an outsider who will apply his business acumen in Washington. He is dismissed by his opponents as an elitist, self-funded businessman who lacks the common touch. And he has a habit of putting his foot in his mouth.
Meet David Perdue, the leading Republican running for Georgia’s open Senate seat and, voters could be forgiven for concluding, the state's answer to Mitt Romney.Meet David Perdue, the leading Republican running for Georgia’s open Senate seat and, voters could be forgiven for concluding, the state's answer to Mitt Romney.
Perdue came out on top of Georgia’s Republican primary contest on Tuesday, making him the most likely candidate to take on Democrat Michelle Nunn in what is expected to be a tight race in November.Perdue came out on top of Georgia’s Republican primary contest on Tuesday, making him the most likely candidate to take on Democrat Michelle Nunn in what is expected to be a tight race in November.
Georgia is one of the most crucial Senate contests in the midterms – one of only two Republican-held seats (the other being Kentucky) that Democrats believe they have a chance of winning.Georgia is one of the most crucial Senate contests in the midterms – one of only two Republican-held seats (the other being Kentucky) that Democrats believe they have a chance of winning.
Outside of the state, Perdue is a virtual unknown – he doesn't even have a Wikipedia page. He poured more than $2.7m of his own money to win the first leg of the primary race, which now goes to a 22 July runoff between Perdue and congressman Jack Kingston, who came in second in Tuesday’s voting.Outside of the state, Perdue is a virtual unknown – he doesn't even have a Wikipedia page. He poured more than $2.7m of his own money to win the first leg of the primary race, which now goes to a 22 July runoff between Perdue and congressman Jack Kingston, who came in second in Tuesday’s voting.
Perdue is running as a strong, fiscally conservative candidate, decrying the national debt and promising to unwind regulation of the financial sector. He is also positioning himself as an outsider, repeating the line that his four main opponents in the primary were "career politicians".Perdue is running as a strong, fiscally conservative candidate, decrying the national debt and promising to unwind regulation of the financial sector. He is also positioning himself as an outsider, repeating the line that his four main opponents in the primary were "career politicians".
Perdue is certainly new to the game. Privately, his friends confide they have seen him evolve into a more polished orator. But his claims to being an outsider are at odds with the fact that he looks very much like an insider: over the past few months, he walked and talked more like a politician than any of his opponents.Perdue is certainly new to the game. Privately, his friends confide they have seen him evolve into a more polished orator. But his claims to being an outsider are at odds with the fact that he looks very much like an insider: over the past few months, he walked and talked more like a politician than any of his opponents.
The similarities with Romney are manifold. Both are clean-cut men in their 60s, with important family connections. Romney's father was the governor of Michigan and a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 1968. Perdue has one of the most recognized names in Georgia politics, courtesy of his cousin, Sonny Perdue, who was the state's governor until three years ago.The similarities with Romney are manifold. Both are clean-cut men in their 60s, with important family connections. Romney's father was the governor of Michigan and a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 1968. Perdue has one of the most recognized names in Georgia politics, courtesy of his cousin, Sonny Perdue, who was the state's governor until three years ago.
Mitt Romney ran the private equity firm Bain Capital, while Perdue has been CEO of corporate giants Reebok and Dollar General. And, as the Guardian overheard one Republican barber in Atlanta observing, the two men even have similar hair.Mitt Romney ran the private equity firm Bain Capital, while Perdue has been CEO of corporate giants Reebok and Dollar General. And, as the Guardian overheard one Republican barber in Atlanta observing, the two men even have similar hair.
Interviewed by the Guardian after he arrived by campaign jet at an airport in Columbus, 100 miles south of Atlanta, on Monday, Perdue did not dismiss the comparison. "I have a lot of respect for Mitt Romney," he said. "If we would all have done what we should have, he would be president."Interviewed by the Guardian after he arrived by campaign jet at an airport in Columbus, 100 miles south of Atlanta, on Monday, Perdue did not dismiss the comparison. "I have a lot of respect for Mitt Romney," he said. "If we would all have done what we should have, he would be president."
However there are two attributes Perdue shares with Romney that could, like the former Republican presidential candidate, prove his undoing. Perdue is gaffe prone, and he has a corporate past that may now come back to haunt him.However there are two attributes Perdue shares with Romney that could, like the former Republican presidential candidate, prove his undoing. Perdue is gaffe prone, and he has a corporate past that may now come back to haunt him.
Twice during the early primary campaign, Perdue made the kinds of mistakes that a more accomplished politician would avoid. The first came in early April, when he dismissed foe Karen Handel, a former Georgia secretary of state from humble roots, as a "high school graduate".Twice during the early primary campaign, Perdue made the kinds of mistakes that a more accomplished politician would avoid. The first came in early April, when he dismissed foe Karen Handel, a former Georgia secretary of state from humble roots, as a "high school graduate".
It was a major error, compounding his image as an elitist snob.It was a major error, compounding his image as an elitist snob.
Handel, who narrowly lost out for the second runoff spot on Tuesday, fought back hard. At a campaign event on Monday, she told a group of supporters: "He looks down on those of us who have figured out a way to make life good and be successful – despite long odds."Handel, who narrowly lost out for the second runoff spot on Tuesday, fought back hard. At a campaign event on Monday, she told a group of supporters: "He looks down on those of us who have figured out a way to make life good and be successful – despite long odds."
Perdue’s second mistake, committed in the final days of the campaign, was a cardinal sin in today’s Republican Party: he appeared to suggest he would support tax hikes.Perdue’s second mistake, committed in the final days of the campaign, was a cardinal sin in today’s Republican Party: he appeared to suggest he would support tax hikes.
Corporate man
He tried to row back from the blip, made during a discussion with the editorial board of the Macon Telegraph. Still, it was a mistake capitalised on by Kingston, who told the Guardian that Perdue "presided over the largest firing in the textile industry".He tried to row back from the blip, made during a discussion with the editorial board of the Macon Telegraph. Still, it was a mistake capitalised on by Kingston, who told the Guardian that Perdue "presided over the largest firing in the textile industry".
Perdue's opponents are seeking to portray him as an out-of-touch, corporate man – more suited to a boardroom in Singapore, Hong Kong or Paris (he has done business in all three) than a diner in small-town Georgia.Perdue's opponents are seeking to portray him as an out-of-touch, corporate man – more suited to a boardroom in Singapore, Hong Kong or Paris (he has done business in all three) than a diner in small-town Georgia.
Much of the dirt about his business past has been dug up by Democrats, who have sat back and relished the show of Republican candidates bruise one another.Much of the dirt about his business past has been dug up by Democrats, who have sat back and relished the show of Republican candidates bruise one another.
Perdue and Kingston will spend another nine weeks slugging it out. Democrats in Georgia believe Nunn, the daughter of former Democratic senator Sam Nunn, has a path to victory against either candidate – albeit a rough one.Perdue and Kingston will spend another nine weeks slugging it out. Democrats in Georgia believe Nunn, the daughter of former Democratic senator Sam Nunn, has a path to victory against either candidate – albeit a rough one.
Privately, top Democratic party officials are most hopeful about a race against Perdue, believing a ruthless business career will come back to haunt him. It is a biography that stands in contrast to that of Nunn, who can also run as a Washington outsider and, although one who, due to the good fortune of a merger of two charities in 2007, can boast she is CEO of Points of Light, a foundation inspired by former president George Bush Sr and still connected to the Bush family.Privately, top Democratic party officials are most hopeful about a race against Perdue, believing a ruthless business career will come back to haunt him. It is a biography that stands in contrast to that of Nunn, who can also run as a Washington outsider and, although one who, due to the good fortune of a merger of two charities in 2007, can boast she is CEO of Points of Light, a foundation inspired by former president George Bush Sr and still connected to the Bush family.
Perdue's victory party was a fairly subdued affair. Unsurprisingly for a man who has not been in politics long enough to generate a base, it was sparsely attended, with many of those who went describing themselves as friends of the Perdue family.Perdue's victory party was a fairly subdued affair. Unsurprisingly for a man who has not been in politics long enough to generate a base, it was sparsely attended, with many of those who went describing themselves as friends of the Perdue family.
Most preferred to point out the differences – most obviously that Romney is a Mormon, while Perdue is a baptist. Romney is also a long-time Republican politician, while Perdue is new to the game. One or two people pointed out that Romney and Perdue ran different kinds of businesses.Most preferred to point out the differences – most obviously that Romney is a Mormon, while Perdue is a baptist. Romney is also a long-time Republican politician, while Perdue is new to the game. One or two people pointed out that Romney and Perdue ran different kinds of businesses.
"They look the same," said Mike Ross, a small businessman, who acknowledged some similarities. "And they both carry themselves in analogous way. And they both know what money is and how it works.""They look the same," said Mike Ross, a small businessman, who acknowledged some similarities. "And they both carry themselves in analogous way. And they both know what money is and how it works."
Neil Sessions, whose preferred candidate, Arthur Gardner, came in last with less than 1% of the Republican vote – by virtue, he said, of being "the only moderate in the race" – concurred that Perdue is Romney-likeNeil Sessions, whose preferred candidate, Arthur Gardner, came in last with less than 1% of the Republican vote – by virtue, he said, of being "the only moderate in the race" – concurred that Perdue is Romney-like
"David is polished, David is good," he said. "Mitt was good, Mitt was polished.""David is polished, David is good," he said. "Mitt was good, Mitt was polished."