GOP Debate Coming to Cobb Energy?

Fresh from watching Newt Gingrich's victory in the South Carolina GOP primary over the weekend, the nation’s political eyes turn to Washington where President Barack Obama will deliver the State of the Union address on Tuesday night.

The annual speech allows presidents to boldly state their case to both Congressional houses as well as the nation. But despite the ambitious claims, presidents like Obama often see their grandiose visions go unfulfilled in the face of messy and bipartisanship government.

By Constitutional design, the president’s power is limited when it comes to solving certain issues and Americans are increasingly asking Congress to do what it was elected to do and that’s work for the people.

Of course Obama has his fair share of critics, but probably not a whole lot of those will be attending a Democratic viewing party in Midtown Tuesday night. Patch will be providing live-blog coverage from the event as Obama addresses the nation. Join in the conversation.

Like many of you have, including some who regularly make comments here at Smyrna-Vinings Patch, over the weekend and into Monday with our coverage of the South Carolina primary.

Gingrich rolled to victory Saturday after shining in recent debates that brought conservative voters to their feet. Now after the victory by the former Speaker of the House and East Cobb Congressman, a former Republican national chairman told The Huffington Post that there’s a 50-50 chance that there could be an “undecided” or “open” GOP convention this August in Tampa, Fla.

Said Michael Steele, who helped author the party’s nominating rules, the new guidelines were deliberately designed to stretch out the nomination process "We wanted to make sure everyone got their chance to be heard," Steele told The HuffPo. "And if that means it goes all the way to the convention, that's the way it will be."

If that happens, it would be the first open convention since President Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan went seeking the nomination at 1976 GOP convention in Kansas City.

Of course there’s much to be discussed ad nauseam before then. Next up is the Jan. 31 Florida primary and there are questions whether Gingrich can keep the Palmetto State momentum in the face of Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s ability to raise and spend money.

But, The Marietta Daily Journal’s Around Town column reported over the weekend that if no “defined’’ candidate emerges from the Florida primary, then expect the Georgia GOP and CNN to co-host a Super Tuesday Republican Presidential Debate that could land at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center.

The columnists mention a March 1 date, which would be just before the March 6 Super Tuesday primary when voters from 10 state, including Georgia, cast their ballots.

That Tuesday is six weeks away and approaching. The next Tuesday, though, is merely hours away and with it comes the final State of the Union from Obama’s first term in office. It won’t be that long before the president is not speaking directly to the American people, but instead in front of during a presidential debate.

Again, much is to be determined and many political followers have suggested that Romney would have the best chance against Obama in the general election. But based on the South Carolina results, as well as Gingrich’s booming self-confidence, wouldn’t a series of debates between Obama and the former East Cobber be fascinating political television come fall?

What do you think?