Campaign needs healthy boost

First, the state ethics commission turned down state School Superintendent Linda Schrenko when she sought permission to borrow $500,000 to jump-start her campaign for governor.

Then, her husband Frank was diagnosed with a tumor near his adrenal gland.

Then, Schrenko took a nasty fall off a ladder at her Appling home last week.

Now, adding insult to these injuries, hometown state Rep. Bill Jackson held a fundraiser at his Appling home for Sonny Perdue, one of the men Schrenko is fighting for the Repub-lican nomination.

Schrenko is recovering from her spill, and Franks prognosis seems good. Her campaigns health is another story.

Already, Gov. Roy Barnes has been using his fat $11 million-plus re-election account to buy biographical TV ads touting his country roots and heroically spinning the accomplishments of his first term.

It already was a given that Barnes would be a tough opponent, in spite of teachers angered at his education initiatives, and Southern heritage supporters infuriated at the change in the states flag. But to even get into the ring with King Roy, Schrenko must be able to fight off a couple of other Republican candidates with healthy warchests - and, more importantly, good health.

Not that there ever is a good time to tumble off a ladder, but Schrenko should stay on the ground for a while. Her underdog campaign can ill-afford another fall.