Episode Details

The hosts open with a relatively quiet political week but preview a strong lineup of guests: Jason Means of the Chick-fil-A Bowl and Kickoff Game and “BBQ Bob” Herndon of the Atlanta BBQ Club later in the hour, and first, political blogger David Wissing, founder of The Hedgehog Report. Before Wissing joins, the panel examines two new Roy Barnes ads in the Georgia governor’s race—a 30-second and a 15-second spot aimed at Nathan Deal’s tax record. Catherine praises the online ad buy, but the hosts question targeting national outlets like the New York Times instead of Georgia papers. They debate whether Barnes’ attacks can move numbers when both candidates remain in the 40s, stressing the need for Barnes to balance negative messaging with positive, job-focused content. They also note the unusual appearance of identical ads paid for by both the Barnes campaign and the Democratic Party of Georgia as part of a coordinated strategy.

When David Wissing joins, he recounts founding The Hedgehog Report, how it evolved into a major national polling hub, and why its diverse readership—from across the political spectrum and even internationally—engages so heavily with election data. He also discusses Maryland politics: the O’Malley–Ehrlich gubernatorial rematch, the surprise Sarah Palin endorsement of Republican challenger Brian Murphy, Tea Party dynamics, and Maryland’s limited down-ballot races. Wissing details the competitive 1st Congressional District race and previews Republican primaries featuring Andy Harris, Rob Fisher, and U.S. Senate hopefuls Eric Orgatz and Jim Rutledge.