Young Pleads for ‘Miracle’ in Georgia Race

Andrew Young, trailing badly in the polls against Democratic rival Lt. Gov. Zell Miller in today’s runoff, made a final plea to voters in his bid to become Georgia’s first black governor, saying he needed “a miracle.”

The top two finishers in a July 17 primary in which Miller led by more than 10 percentage points are vying for the Democratic nomination in a race Young jumped into late and has never commanded.

“Certainly, we would feel better if the numbers were closer, but Andy has always said that a way would be made,” Young campaign manager Hobby Stripling said before the former Atlanta mayor headed out for a fly-around tour of the state. “I guess we are flying on faith right now that things will work out and we will win the thing.”

Recent polls show Miller, a 16-year veteran of the lieutenant governor’s office, has widened his lead to 20 points with 12% of the voters undecided.

The poll indicated that Young had failed to amass uniform black support and collect the portion of white backing needed for victory, while Miller, buoyed by a popular proposal for a state lottery, won over many blacks and at least three-quarters of the white vote.

Young is a former U.N. ambassador, congressman and confidant of Martin Luther King Jr..

The winner of the runoff faces Republican gubernatorial nominee, state Rep. Johnny Isakson, in the November general elections, to determine who will succeed Gov. Joe Frank Harris. Harris is leaving office after the maximum two terms allowed by law.

Isakson would be the first GOP governor in Georgia in 122 years if he wins the race.