Could Michael Coles Be Considering Race Against Saxby?

(11/22/07) Highly-placed sources involved in this year’s race for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate believe that the departure of longtime Democratic Party operatives from candidate Dale Cardwell may have more to do with the prospects of a bigger, better-funded fish entering the race than with Cardwell’s lack of “establishment” support and money.

Last week, Great American Cookie Company founder Michael Coles left his post as CEO of Minneapolis-based Caribou Coffee and is likely to return fulltime to Georgia.

Coles, who headed up the Democratic Party of Georgia in its Roy Barnes-majority-control days, made strong bids for Congress and the U.S. Senate in the past.

Observers believe Coles would have significant money to devote to the race and suggest that his experience in two prior races makes him “reason enough” to possibly give incumbent Republican senator Saxby Chambliss “a run for his money.”

Should he enter the race, Coles would first have to defeat DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones in a Democratic Primary that has become nearly 50% African-American in terms of voter turnout.

An attempt to reach Coles for comment was unsuccessful, so the story, as of the moment, remains unconfirmed.