Norwood ponders Senate run

U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood knew it was coming.

He had the feeling for months that Sen. Zell Miller wouldn't run for office again.

Now that the Senator has made it official, the speculation about Norwood's political future has begun. Will he or won't he run for Miller's seat?

"We're thinking about it," he said during a visit to The Columbia County News-Times last week. "It's a complex subject. It's not as simple as it might seem."

The main question, Norwood said, is whether he would better serve a couple of million residents as a senator or 650,000 residents as a representative. He's spent his time in the House building relationships and seniority and some of that would be lost in a move to the Senate.

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"I don't have any ego problems," he said. "I don't need to have 'U.S. Senator' on my tombstone."

He admits he's had people to talk to about running, and plans to make a decision in the next couple of months.

"I will have to talk myself into it," he said.

Norwood said even if he does not run, he'll work for the seat.

"(Republicans) really need to win that seat," he said.

Norwood also touched on the importance of preserving Fort Gordon.

"Augusta doesn't need to take this lightly," he said.

He said Georgia's 13 military installations have avoided past rounds of closures. The state might not be so lucky this time.

"Somebody out there will say it is Georgia's turn," he said.

Places like Albany already have a lobbyist to try to protect Moody Field. Augusta may need someone similar.

"You are at an immediate disadvantage if one group has (a lobbyist) and you don't," he said.