Throughout this campaign, Karen has focused her energies on traveling across the state and telling Georgians about why she is the most qualified individual to be our next Secretary of State and laying out a detailed plan of reform for the office. Unfortunately, from day one, Bill Stephens has engaged in a campaign of misrepresentations, distortions and outright lies. And, here’s the latest as reported by Jim Galloway in the Political Insider:

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Wednesday, August 3, 2006

We received a campaign e-mail Wednesday from Bill Stephens, who’s locked in a statewide run-off against Karen Handel in the Republican race for secretary of state.

It ended with a series of quotes, under the headline “What folks are saying about Bill.”

One of the paragraphs read thusly: “[Governor Perdue and I] have absolutely been supportive of Senator Stephens.” It was attributed to Nick Ayers, the governor’s youthful campaign manager.

At least among Republicans, Perdue is extremely popular. With President Bush’s coattails shrinking into his collar, it’s only natural for candidates to cling to the current Republican governor, whose approval numbers remain high.

One of Handel’s mailers, for instance, featured photographs of the candidate with virtually every member of the governor’s staff.

That said, the quote from Stephens rankled Perdue’s re-election campaign.

Partially because it seemed to violate the thin, neutral line the governor has tried to walk in the race. Partially because, Perdue’s people attest, the quote isn’t genuine.

But they objected mostly because the apparent endorsement could, shall we say, interfere with the entirely spiritual congress between Ayers and his new bride, Jamie.

Jamie Ayers, a cousin of the governor, is employed by the Handel campaign as a fund-raiser.

Said Derrick Dickey, mouthpiece for the Perdue campaign: “We have a great deal of respect for both candidates, but if Nick had said that, he’d be sleeping on the couch for weeks.”

So, after a yearlong exercise of negative campaigning and false attacks, he has now resorted to total fabrications of endorsements. Let’s take inventory of his bag of dirty tricks.

First, Bill Stephens has orchestrated false ethics complaints against Karen and then denied it. Then it was discovered that the college roommate of his campaign manager is behind the false complaints. Stephens said it was a “coincidence.”

Then, Bill Stephens falsely attacked Karen for supposedly showing support for Planned Parenthood because of a federal and state pass-through grant distributed through Fulton County. By state and federal law, taxpayer funds can’t be used for abortions or abortion counseling services. And, the grant itself was administered, managed and implemented by the State of Georgia leaving Karen Handel (and the Board of Commissioners) no choice in the matter.

Next, just days before the primary, an unsigned, unattributed “questionnaire” mysteriously appears and is released by Bill Stephens. The document, provided by a pro-gay rights organization, is totally contradictory to Karen’s public record and her stated views.

Republican voters rejected Bill’s sensational and outrageous attacks in the primary two weeks ago by giving Karen Handel 44% of the primary vote and victories in 106 of Georgia’s 159 counties. But, his campaign has continued down the same path….

This week, a Stephens’ mailer claims that Karen Handel increased spending at Fulton County by $28 Billion Dollars. Billion! That amount of money would fund Fulton County at its current level for the next 50 years. (In fact, Karen Handel cut the Fulton budget by $35 million.)

And now he is making up quotes from Republican leaders and making it sound as if they have endorsed him for Secretary of State.

You can help end this insanity! Go to the polls on Tuesday and vote for Karen Handel for Secretary of State. We have the opportunity to have a proven, ethical leader on the ticket with Governor Perdue.

Another Major Newspaper Endorsement of Karen Handel

From today’s Atlanta Journal Constitution.

“Karen Handel is the standout in the Republican runoff. Chairwoman of the Fulton County Commission, Handel offers impeccable GOP credentials, including stints in the service of Gov. Sonny Perdue and in the White House of the first President George Bush.

She’s efficient, deliberate and analytical and understands the scope of the secretary of state’s role.

The real nature of the job seems to escape her opponent, state Sen. Bill Stephens (R-Canton), who has spent much of the campaign talking about abortion and the evil of liberalism and pounding his chest about being the conservatives’ conservative. Yet, while Stephens styles himself as the values candidate in the race, he fails to mention that, in 2004, the state Ethics Commission slapped him with a record fine of $14,000 for campaign fund discrepancies that he blamed on “sloppy accounting.”

One Day Remaining for Advanced Voting

Reports from around the state indicate turnout is very low. There is one day left for early voting. Click here to find the location in your county. Encourage your friends, neighbors and co-workers to vote early for Karen, or be sure to go to the polls on Tuesday.

Thanks again for your support!

www.karenhandel.com