Casino issue flares in Georgia governor race

ATLANTA --- Republican Nathan Deal created a stir when he said this month that he was willing to keep an "open mind" about the possibility of casinos in Georgia, drawing the ire of the state's politically powerful Christian conservatives who oppose gambling.

After at least one prominent Christian activist voiced concerns to Deal, his campaign for governor had a different message.

"He personally opposes casino gambling," spokesman Brian Robinson said in an interview this week. "Nathan does not believe gambling is the best way to create jobs."

Robinson quickly noted that Deal has voted against online gambling bills in Congress but would not say whether Deal, as governor, would sign or veto a bill legalizing casino gambling. Robinson said the issue was moot because permitting gambling in the state would require a constitutional amendment, which does not need the governor's signature to become law.

Deal won his party's nomination by running as a staunch social conservative, and he's counting on solid support from the state's politically-active Christian right to lift him to a win in the November general election.

As a result, his comments on casinos -- made at a tourism forum in Savannah -- were greeted with surprise by the state's evangelical leaders.

"I think there are potentials," Deal said at the forum. "We should look at it with an open mind and we should not say 'no' just because of any particular bias one way or the other. I'm willing to keep an open mind about it."

Ray Newman, a lobbyist for the Georgia Baptist Convention, said he became so alarmed after learning of Deal's remarks he called the former congressman to express his concern.

"I think we are on the same page now," Newman said. "I'm always concerned when there is talk about expanding legalized gambling."

Jerry Luquire, the head of the Georgia Christian Coalition, said Friday that by refusing to say outright that he would veto a gambling bill, Deal "is essentially saying that he supports casino gambling."

Luquire said that if Deal believes that Christian conservatives will support him because "they have nowhere else to go" in the November general election he's mistaken.

"They don't have to vote the top of the ballot," Luquire said. "They can stay home."

Deal's opponent, Democrat Roy Barnes, made clear at the Savannah forum that he opposes legalizing casino gambling. He said it would compete with the state lottery, which funds the HOPE scholarship.