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Tuesday's runoff for Georgia's Republican governor's nomination isn't just Nathan Deal vs. Karen Handel -- it's also Newt Gingrich and Mike Huckabee vs. Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney.

Handel, Georgia's former secretary of state, was endorsed by Palin before the July 20 primary against former U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, who is supported by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Arkansas governor and current TV talk show host Mike Huckabee.

Deal resigned his House seat to run for governor. Incumbent GOP Gov. Sonny Perdue is prohibited from running for a third consecutive term.

The winner will face former Gov. Roy Barnes, who lost to Perdue in 2002, and who easily won the Democratic primary.

Nathan Gonzales, political editor of the nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report, said that the endorsements by GOP heavyweights, like Palin and Gingrich, are likely part of an effort to also lobby to be seen as the face of the Republican Party.

"The more people you help get elected, the larger influence you will have within a party," he said. "I think that's part of the reason why you see Palin endorsing candidates; [Sen. Jim] DeMint endorsing; Mitt Romney and [Minnesota Gov.] Tim Pawlenty contributing to and endorsing candidates."

Handel vaulted into the lead in polls after Palin endorsed her just before the July primary and captured 34 percent of the vote while Deal finished second with 23 percent. Since neither won 50 percent, the two were forced into Tuesday's runoff.

After the primary, former Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney also endorsed Handel.

On Monday, Palin stumped in Atlanta, Georgia, for Handel, telling the crowd that it's time to end the "good ole boy network that really gets in the way of just doing the things that the people who want to hire a good governor are expecting from their government."

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