For politicians, October is like TV’s rating month, except instead of viewership, its money. This month, they report donations and expenses for the third quarter, and the races for 2010 are heating up.

Candidate Mike Keown for incumbent Rep. Sanford Bishop’s seat reported that in his first six weeks of his campaign, donations received totaled more than $105,000, with 96 percent coming from individuals within Georgia’s Second Congressional District. Bishop had donations of $106,000 for the first half of the year with less than 1 percent coming from individuals in his district and expenditures of $207,000. He did a little better in the third quarter with donations of $169,000, and $31.600 or 18 percent coming from individuals in the district.

It is interesting to see who gave and to speculate why.

The biggest political hotcake this year is healthcare reform; in fact, the Democrats are currently behind closed doors without a single Republican present crafting the final bill from the ones passed from committees. I wonder what the 85 percent of currently insured Americans will lose, how much this will cost, and if we can afford what Vongress will stuff down our throats, but I digress.

So, Bishop made the healthcare tour late August in the district and reported one-third of his in district individual’s donations coming from healthcare providers.

Twelve of the top 21 executives at Phoebe Putney donated $400 each with the CEO donating $1,000, small business Englewood Home Health giving $3,500 and Georgia Home Medical giving $1,010.

Wonder what they were hoping to influence?

Or how about the Coca-Cola PAC; they gave $2,000; maybe they were worried about the sugar tax on soft drinks?

Same for U.S. Sugar Corp PAC, they gave $1,000. Doubt if they’ll have much luck; Bishop says he’s his own man. His voting record, according to VoteSmart, is 100 percent Pelosi and 100 percent according to the wishes of AFL-CIO. See the finances for yourselves at – www.fec.gov/finance/disclosure/efile_search.shtml.

Locally, you can meet the State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox, who is running for re-election, on Thursday, Oct. 22 at the Corner Cafe on Dawson Road between 5 and 7 p.m.

written by Staff Reports.