GA Dems gather in Columbus as GOP meets in Perry
Candidates campaign in SW GA
Georgia Democrats met in Columbus for their state convention over the weekend to conduct party business and officially nominate their slate of statewide candidates.
Hundreds of Democrats from all across the state gathered in a Columbus ballroom where they heard fiery speeches from elected officials and candidates.
The party is hoping to “finish the job,” seeking to build on the gains that they made in the 2020 election. Stacey Abrams is waging a rematch with Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock is battling it out with Republican Herschel Walker, and the party is contesting several races that for years have been left without Democratic candidates.
But President Joe Biden’s low approval ratings and continued concerns about inflation and economic issues could make that a daunting task. And the party that controls Washington almost always suffers losses in midterm elections. But Abrams is not deterred by those seeking to link her to the national party, telling me at the press conference that we have the opportunity to “reflect the values of the people of Georgia.”
The dynamics of Georgia’s 2022 elections are also not the same as they were in 2018. In her rematch with Gov. Kemp, Abrams is not running against a polarizing Secretary of State but a well-positioned incumbent governor. Many of her ticket-mates are also running against Republican incumbents. And with Trump no longer in the White House, it is difficult for them to campaign against national forces — which might explain why they are talking more about state and local issues.
Nevertheless, the party remains determined to prove that their victories in 2020 were no fluke. Sen. Warnock, one of the first heavy-hitters to speak, told delegates that there is still “more work for us to do.” He notably made no mention of his Republican opponent by name during his remarks.
Some of the sharpest attacks came from Lieutenant Governor nominee Charlie Bailey. The former prosecutor railed against extremism and criticized his Republican opponent, State Sen. Burt Jones, for joining the effort to overturn the 2020 election. “I prosecuted felonies,” Bailey said. “My opponent committed felonies.”
Abrams closed things out by reminding delegates that they still have “unfinished business.” She says that Kemp has spent the last four years pitting Georgians against one another. But she also seemed to acknowledge that she is campaigning as an underdog: “It doesn’t matter what the polls say, it’s what the people say that we need to pay attention to.”
Just over 80 miles east of Columbus, Republican candidates for Georgia’s top offices attended a fish fry in Perry. It was one of the first times we saw Gov. Brian Kemp, Lieutenant Governor nominee Burt Jones and U.S. Senate nominee Herschel Walker on the campaign trail together.
Since the primary, folks have wondered whether or not we would see Kemp and Walker campaigning together. After all, Walker was personally recruited by Donald Trump, while Gov. Kemp has become a pariah in the former President’s inner circle for refusing to overturn the 2020 election.
Plus, Kemp has maintained a decent lead in polling over the last few months. Many weren’t sure if he would be willing to appear alongside Walker, whose baggage and verbal gaffes have left Democrats with confidence that they can hold the seat.
Allies of both insist they harbor no ill will toward each other – Walker has spoken of forming a devastating political “tag team” on the trail – but they each may have reasons to remain wary of a closer alliance.
Still, they both have reasons to be cautious before they start campaigning heavily with one another going forward. Kemp would run the risk of alienating the suburban moderates and independents that he is counting on to defeat Abrams, while Walker would likely anger diehard Trump supporters (and possibly the former President himself) for campaigning alongside a governor that they view as weak and ineffective.
Will be interesting to see if those repubs maintain any campaign relationship, as we know, and you pointed out, tRump don't roll like that.😉VOTE 💙