For any Athens Democrats who are drinking the Obama Kool-Aid, here’s a stiff reminder that his chances in Georgia might not be so great after all.

Jackson County Republicans held a John McCain rally Thursday afternoon, drawing about 200 people to a small park in downtown Commerce, right across the street from the local Obama headquarters.

No one in the audience threatened to lynch anyone or called anyone a terrorist, but they were enthusiastic about hearing about the merits of McCain and the dangers of Obama from a Who’s Who of Georgia elected officials, including Rep. Paul Broun, future Secretary of Agriculture Gary Black and state Rep. Tommy Benton, R-Jefferson. Gov. Sonny Perdue and Secretary of State Karen Handel phoned in remarks. State Sen. Ralph Hudgens, R-Hull, was supposed to call in as well, but had technical difficulties.

As reported earlier, state Reps. Terry England, R-Auburn, and Tommy Benton, R-Jefferson, are among about a dozen or so representatives openly backing Blue Ridge Republican David Ralston’s challenge of House Speaker Glenn Richardson.

I still haven’t had a chance to talk to Benton or England personally, but I spoke to state Rep. Bob Smith, R-Watkinsville, recently, and he said he’s sitting on the sidelines for the time being. Smith backed Speaker Pro Tem Mark Burkhalter, R-Alpharetta, for the top spot in 2004.

The official Democrat line is that they’ll let the GOP sort out the speaker situation in caucus meetings this fall. After all, when one party starts fighting in the sandbox, they make the other side look like grown-ups.