Updated 11:32 p.m. | State Rep. Doug Collins won the GOP runoff today in Georgia's 9th district and is almost certain to be coming to Congress from the ultra-Republican seat in the northeast portion of the state. Close with Gov. Nathan Deal (R) and backed by the Atlanta Republican establishment, Collins easily won the runoff, besting conservative talk radio host Martha Zoller by almost 10 points. With 98.1 percent of precincts reporting, Collins had 54.6 percent to Zoller's 45. 4 percent, the Associated Press reported. With support from former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R), former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), and former GOP presidential contender Herman Cain, Zoller cast herself as the insurgent tea party candidate against Collins, who has establishment roots. (more…)
