Showing support: Covington Police Chief Stacey Cotton talks to Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Karen Handel at a meet-and-greet hosted by Clay and Judy Newman. The Newmans, and several other local Republicans, are supporting Handel, who is the current secretary of state. According to an Oct. 22 story by Rasmussen Reports, a public opinion data Web site, Handel is favored by 13 percent of likely GOP primary voters. Fire and Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine continues to lead in the GOP polls with a 27 percent favored rating.