Georgia, ‘SEC primary’ want Southern stamp on GOP in 2016
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) – Georgia Republicans are finding themselves face-to-face with three presidential hopefuls at their party convention – and more are on the way.
That’s giving the state GOP hope that a new standard in presidential politics awaits as Southern states build a regional primary for 2016.
The architect of the so-called SEC primary, Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp, says the effort is putting the state and the region on the map in presidential primary politics.
The SEC primary is a reference to college athletics’ Southeastern Conference. So far, four Southern states – Georgia, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia – have plans for a March 1 primary.
The large field of GOP hopefuls suggests that the second wave of primary states may have a genuine say in selecting a nominee.
