Governor Nathan Deal and challenger Jason Carter faced off Tuesday, Oct. 7 and so did the candidates for Georgia's U.S. Senate seat -- in a somewhat unusual location. The debate took place at the Georgia National Fair, south of Macon.

Mercer University political science professor Chris Grant is predicting a run-off in the gubernatorial race. He spoke with GPB Macon bureau chief Michael Caputo and explained how the candidates should position themselves to win.

GPB Macon bureau chief Michael Caputo: For each of these debates, first the Senate, then the Governor, what’s the one topic you’d love for each of these candidates to to tackle, first the Senate, then the Governor?

Chris Grant, political science professor at Mercer University:
When I think of the Senate race, I’m really interested in how either Michelle Nunn or David Perdue is going to go to Washington and be something that crosses party lines and isn’t going to be beholden to party interests since it is so much about partisanship that will get them elected and I’m curious as to what ideas they have and what sorts of things they’re going to do that truly can bridge party lines.

I’ve heard alot about how both of them are going to do this that David Perdue is not going to be a crying baby. That Michelle Nunn is not beholden to anyone. But I really would like to know how they are going to do that.

GPB Macon bureau chief Michael Caputo: How about the Governor’s race? What do you want to hear?

Chris Grant, political science professor at Mercer University:The Governor’s race: the incumbent Governor Nathan Deal needs to answer some of the questions that people are lingering on in their minds. He remains tied almost in a statistical dead heat with Jason Carter by most of the polling - maybe a little bit ahead of Carter.

But he’s got to answer some questions. In people’s minds that have voted for him in the past and still have lingering questions. I think he needs to take some ownership over “Snowmeggedon”, the Atlanta snow issues. I’d like to hear something about that and how his management style has either grown or changed or become different.

I think for Jason Carter, he needs to be able to present himself as a governor. He needs to look like he can be in command of a state of 10 million people at 39 years old, almost 40. I think that certainly someone can do that at that age. But that kind of works against him; I’d like to see him appear gubernatorial in this debate.

GPB Macon bureau chief Michael Caputo: Let’s stick with the Governor’s race then for a second. There seems to be a chance for a run-off, tell me what you think the chances are and who that helps.

Well I think there’s a probability actually that there’s a run-off in the Governor’s race.

GPB Macon bureau chief Michael Caputo: A probability?

Chris Grant, political science professor at Mercer University: Looking at the polling going in - and the fact that Deal tends to be at below fifty percent as an incumbent over and over and over again and the fact that he’s polling behind David Perdue - that means rank and file Republican voters - people that are voting Republican in other races are choosing to opt out in the Governor’s race and either not vote for the Democrat, vote for the Libertarian or aren’t expressing an interest. He has got to get over fifty percent for their not to be a runoff in that race, I think. It is possible, that Carter could win without a run-off because the Democrats are trying desperately to get him to that point.

GPB Macon bureau chief Michael Caputo: One more question… middle Georgia, why is it such a swing area? What is going on here?

Chris Grant, political science professor at Mercer University: Middle Georgia was one of the last parts of the state that had a strong cadre of white Democrats outside of the Atlanta metro area where you have progressive to liberal voters. That is not who is in middle Georgia. There is a lot of blue collar workers especially in the Macon area but also in Augusta and Columbus and across this part of the state - you have white Democrats who were voting Democrat all the way until 2002. This was a place and a little bit south of here, that really Sonny Perdue was really able to get that oopmph to get over the top. And now we’ve had three election cycles where white voters in the area have consistently voted Republican.

The Democrats think that with candidates that come from this area, or have responsiveness in this area, that they are going to be able to do something better than they have done in the past.

GPB Macon bureau chief Michael Caputo: Chris Grant, thanks for stopping by.

Chris Grant, political science professor at Mercer University:My pleasure.

Tags: Georgia National Fair, Michael Caputo, mercer university political science professor chris grant, debate, Jason Carter, michelle nunn, Nathan Deal, David Perdue