Spring Break
Early returns declare Barnes winner
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The Associated Press
ATLANTA - Democrat Roy Barnes led in early returns Tuesday in the Georgia governor's race in a battle to preserve the Democrats' century-old lock on Georgia's governor's office against Republican Guy Millner.
Their race, waged largely on the TV screen in relentless attack ads, was the most expensive in state history.
Although ABC News and The Associated Press declared Barnes the winner before 10 p.m., complete results were not available at press time for the front page. Late returns are listed on page 3.
Pre-election polls rated the contest a toss-up, with analysts saying the win would go to the candidate who did the best job turning out his core vote - the Republican suburbs for Millner; the big city and black vote for Barnes.
Exit interviews with voters suggested the black voter turnout for Barnes in Atlanta could be the strongest for a Democrat since 1988. Millner, the interviews indicated, was not faring as well with suburban voters as in two previous races.
Arriving at his election-watch party Tuesday night, Millner sounded upbeat and hopeful. ''It's going to be a long night ... I'm expecting a very close race ... They don't call me 'Landslide Millner, that's for sure.''
Millner, 62, a millionaire Atlanta businessman, lost close races for governor in 1994 and for the U.S. Senate in 1996. With no previous government experience, Millner hoped voters would buy his argument that only a businessman could cure state government problems. He proposed tax cuts and promised to reduce the teacher-pupil ratio in schools. Founder of a temporary employment agency, Millner spent $11.5 million of his own money in the race.
Barnes, a 50-year-old attorney, said he had the experience needed to protect the popular lottery-funded scholarship and pre-kindergarten programs begun by retiring Gov. Zell Miller.
Barnes touted his 22 years in the Legislature and his endorsement from Miller, who leaves with an 85 percent approval rating.
The campaigns spent a total of $24 million counting primary election costs, double the amount of spending in the last gubernatorial race - when Miller defeated Millner.
