ST. MARYS — Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Herschel Walker delivered what his campaign promoted as a “prebuttal” to President Joe Biden’s prime-time speech Wednesday on how democracy is on the line in the midterm elections.
The former football player mostly delivered his typical stump speech that assailed both Biden and U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, whom he labeled “the Grinch that stole Christmas” because of his vote for Democratic-backed proposals.
“We’ve got to get this election turned around and get it on the right track,” Walker said. “Otherwise, we’re not going to recognize this country.”
He added: “I think Joe Biden in charge of the White House is the biggest threat to democracy I can think of. And Raphael Warnock’s been standing by his side every day.”
He called Warnock a “Marxist” and falsely accused the Democrat of wanting to “get rid of police,” the court system and the family unit system.
The latest Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll showed a neck-and-neck race between the two rivals, with a significant number of Republicans signaling they plan to withhold their support from Walker. Libertarian Chase Oliver is soaking up some of those votes.
If no candidate gets a majority of the vote in Tuesday’s election, the race will be forced into a December runoff in a race that could determine control of the Senate.
Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC
Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC
Kemp and Ducey hit the road
ROCKMART — Gov. Brian Kemp swung through west Georgia on Wednesday with Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, one of a string of establishment Republican figures who are lending the GOP ticket their support in the final days of the election.
Ducey stressed to the crowd that a big Kemp victory over Democrat Stacey Abrams will buoy down-ticket candidates such as Insurance Commissioner John King, who also joined the tour.
“We are going to keep red states red. Our incumbents are going to win reelection,” Ducey said. “We’re on offense in every blue state in this country because those states deserve a Brian Kemp as well.”
As he has at other stops, Kemp urged Republicans not to let up — or buy into polls that show the governor with a hefty lead over Abrams.
“We’re going to get up for six more days,” the governor said. “Six more days to make sure Stacey Abrams isn’t going to be our governor or our next president.”
Early voting reaches a big milestone
More than 2 million Georgians have now cast ballots as voters continue to set a record pace for early voting. Both parties are encouraging supporters to bank their votes early amid a surge of voter participation ahead of the Nov. 8 election.
Stacey Abrams leaned on celebrity support to appeal to Hispanic voters to back her rematch against Gov. Brian Kemp. Her campaign promoted a video of the actress America Ferrera encouraging Georgians to head to the polls.
“Georgia voters, our time is now,” Ferrera said. “We’re showing up to the polls to choose who will fight for our families, our friends and our futures. But we can’t do it alone. Make sure your voice is heard.”
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