Perdue cautions NRA to `choose wisely'

AUGUSTA - The Republican nominee for governor -- Sonny Perdue -- has cautioned the National Rifle Association to ``choose wisely&#39;&#39; in the governor&#39;s race. <br> <br> Perdue issued the advice Saturday in Augusta on the last day of a two-day unity meeting of the state Republican Party. He had gotten an indication the day before that the NRA&#39;s string of Democratic endorsements for governor probably will continue. <br> <br> The chief Washington lobbyist for the gun group -- Charles Cunningham -- told the gun group Friday that its national membership of four million will support Republican Saxby Chambliss in his U.S. Senate race against Democratic incumbent Max Cleland. Not once did he mention Perdue. <br> <br> The rifle association endorsed Governor Barnes, a Democrat, in 1998 --- as it had Democrat Zell Miller in 1990 and 1994. <br> <br> Perdue urged the NRA to ``choose wisely, based on principles and not politics.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Perdue is an avid shooter who received the NRA&#39;s endorsement when he was a state senator. He urged the NRA to remain neutral and not endorse a candidate in the governor&#39;s race.<br> <br> Later Monday, Perdue challenged Barnes to a one-on-one gun contest. <br> <br> He says he can out-shoot Barnes in a shooting contest using clay pigeons. <br> <br> Perdue says the winner should get the endorsement of the National Rifle Association. <br> <br> The powerful lobbying group has publicly hinted that Barnes would be endorsed, as he was in 1998. <br> <br> Barnes did not respond to Perdue&#39;s challenge.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/9/190070