ATLANTA — Georgia’s former secretary of state, buoyed by support from ex- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, nabbed a spot Tuesday in a Republican runoff for governor, while a Democrat who served a single term as governor won his party’s nomination for a comeback bid.
Palin’s nod helped former Secretary of State Karen Handel surge to the top of the polls in recent days.
With 64 percent of precincts reporting Tuesday night, unofficial returns showed Handel had 32 percent of the vote.
There was a furious three-way battle behind her for the second runoff spot. Nathan Deal had 25 percent of the vote, former state Sen. Eric Johnson had 19 percent, and state Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine had 18 percent.
On the Democratic side, former Gov. Roy Barnes won his party’s nomination for governor, avoiding a runoff by trouncing six opponents in his comeback bid.
