U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar plans to meet Friday with some of Georgia's most prominent Democrats, hold a discussion on voting rights and raise cash for her bid for president during her swing through Georgia.
The Minnesota Democrat will meet with former President Jimmy Carter and Stacey Abrams, along with what her campaign described as a closed-door roundtable with local leaders and activists to talk about ballot access issues.
She'll cap the day with a fundraiser at the home of Gordon Giffin, a former U.S. ambassador, that will be hosted by ex-Gov. Roy Barnes and other prominent Democrats. The ticket will cost donors $1,000 to attend and $5,600 to co-host.
Klobuchar, who announced her bid this month in a driving snowstorm, is the second presidential candidate to visit Georgia since formally entering the race.
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren held a rally in Gwinnett County on Saturday, followed by a private dinner in downtown Atlanta with Abrams.
Earlier this week, some Democrats bristled that it appeared Klobuchar was snubbing Abrams, who became a national political figure during her campaign for governor last year.
Abrams' top aide, Lauren Groh-Wargo, said Wednesday that the two planned to meet and that Abrams will huddle with any Democratic candidate who asks.
Long little more than a fundraising stop for White House contenders, Georgia was not seriously contested by Democrats over the past few presidential cycles.
But last year’s narrow elections, coupled with Republican defeats across the Atlanta suburbs, has energized state Democrats.
Just about every presidential hopeful visited Georgia last year to stump with Abrams — and lay the groundwork for their campaigns — as Democrats ready to compete for the state’s 16 electoral votes in 2020.
About the Author
