Following last week’s informal announcement, Georgia Congressman Paul Broun (R-Athens) will make his formal declaration to seek outgoing Senator Saxby Chambliss‘ seat at 4 PM EST at Hilton Atlanta. Last Tuesday, ViralRead.com exclusively reported that the wife of Georgia Rep. Paul Broun, Niki, had given her blessing to her husband to seek the seat of retiring Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss in 2014. The announcement puts one of the nation’s most controversial Republican congressmen back in the spotlight.

Congressman Broun is most known on the national stage for his controversial statements regarding President Barack Obama. Just over a week ago, Broun said to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Jim Galloway that in his view, the “only Constitution that Barack Obama upholds is the Soviet constitution.” Broun also drew national attention last fall when he declared that evolution, embryology and the big bang theory were “lies straight from the pit of hell.”

Karen Handel and Paul Broun in a playful exchange at a Citizens Helping America Restore Government Ethics meeting in Gwinnett County, Georgia last week.

Following today’s announcement, there is bound to be wild speculation as to who will be the next to retire from the Georgia congressional delegation to seek the Republican nomination to replace Georgia’s senior Senator. Among the most popular names mentioned are Congressman Tom Price (R-Marietta), Congressman Jack Kingston (R-Savannah), Congressman Phil Gingrey (R-Marrietta), and former Secretary of State and 2010 gubernatorial candidate Karen Handel.

Congressman Price has been an early favorite, however, he appears to have pumped the breaks following last week’s news of Congressman Broun’s announcement. Deputy NRCC Chairman, Congressman Lynn Westmoreland (R-Newnan), put out a formal press release on Monday informing the rest of the field that he has no intention of getting in the race, and looks forward to working with whomever replaces Senator Chambliss. Mayor Kasim Reed (D-Atlanta) was also speculated to jump into the race, however, he followed up Congressman Westmoreland’s announcement with one of his own, turning down the opportunity to pursue the open seat.

Now, let the games begin.

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