Broyles endorsed by GOP party leaders

ATLANTA - Top brass of the Georgia Republican Party is supporting Vernadette Ramirez Broyles for the GOP nomination for secretary of state. <br> <br> Standing with Broyles at a news conference Thursday on the Capitol steps were Sonny Perdue, the party&#39;s gubernatorial nominee, and Fred Cooper and Eric Tanenblatt, who played key roles in the Bush campaign in 2000. <br> <br> Broyles is one of the first Hispanic women to seek statewide office in either party. But she finished a distant second in the August 20 primary behind Charlie Bailey. <br> <br> A runoff is required because Bailey, who captured 47 percent of the vote, did not win with 50 percent. Broyles, hailed by Republican leaders as a sign their party is reaching out to minorities, had 26 percent. <br> <br> Also on the runoff ballot next week is a battle for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor, but Perdue says he does not plan to get involved.