Rep. Johnny Isakson defied a bit of political wisdom on Tuesday night by taking 53 percent of the vote in a competitive three-way field to win the Republican nomination without a run-off. Isakson faced businessman Herman Cain, who took 26 percent, and Rep. Mac Collins, who got 21 percent. Both rivals raised and spent enough money to wage very credible campaigns that included television and radio advertising and direct mail. As a result, most observers expected them to garner enough of the vote to force a run-off. It seems that Isakson, though, was the only candidate who had an aggressive get-out-the-vote operation and a little help from his friends.
Isakson, 59, was born and raised in Georgia and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1966. He became a real estate agent and in 1979 became president of Northside Realty, which grew into one of the largest real estate brokerage firms in the country. He entered politics in 1976 when he won a seat in the state House and eventually served as Republican Leader from 1983 until 1990 when he
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