How ethics allegations could affect Deal campaign

ATHENS - Former Congressman Nathan Deal's bid for governor is likely to suffer political fallout from allegations by Congressional investigators that he violated ethics rules, according to University of Georgia political scientist Charles Bullock but its hard to gauge the extent of the damage.

Bullock tells Georgia News Network he fully expects the allegations to become fodder for Deal's Republican and Democratic opponents in this year's governor's race.

"(We'll) probably see some advertising coming out from opposing candidates that would make sure voters are aware of the negative decision...against the former congressman," Bullock said.

Congressional investigators allege - among other things - that Deal used his congressional office to pressure the state to continue a program that benfited his auto salvage business. But a defiant Deal fired back at a Gainesville news conference Tuesday, flatly denying that he did anything wrong and blasting his critics. (See separate story.)

Bullock says, however, the allegations could erode support for the Deal campaign.

"People thinking of making endorsements...might re-think their decisions" and "individuals who might've been considering making campaign contributions might be thinking twice (but) this is not a campaign ender, like an indictment would be, but any negative information is harmful. This is not the way your want your campaign to develop with questions raised about decisions you've made in the past, about your judgment."