Moving up Georgia’s presidential primaries to put the Peach State fourth in the primary calendar would reap huge economic benefits.
According to a study by Emory University finance professor Thomas Smith, early Democratic and Republican presidential primaries next year could generate nearly $220 million in economic impact and create more than 2,200 jobs. The report accounted only for the effects of campaign spending by candidates, national and regional committees representing political parties, and political action committees.
It did not include spending by media organizations that would flood Georgia to cover early primaries.
Smith based his findings on a scenario that would include 11 Republican candidates but only one Democrat: President Joe Biden.
An open election in 2028, when presumably neither party would have an incumbent running, would yield even greater economic impact, the study concludes.
Smith also predicted the economic effects of early primaries wouldn’t be limited to metro Atlanta, extending to other metro areas including Athens.
