Early voting continues to soar in Georgia, with data indicating that higher proportions of Black voters are casting ballots so far than in the last two election cycles.
One reason behind the rising totals is a coalition of grassroots organizations that styles itself as the “closers” of election cycles.
The coalition, under the umbrella of the left-leaning America Votes Georgia, has knocked more than 1.3 million doors in key districts. They and their allies are what Gov. Brian Kemp refers to when he says Republicans are playing catch-up to the Democrats’ robust pre-election ground game.
“We will continue to knock on the doors of women of color and working families to turn out again and usher in the future we want to see,” said Hillary Holley, executive director of Care in Action, one of the groups.
Deborah Scott of “We Vote, We Win” spoke of “why the ground game matters, and why canvassing and door-knocking work.
“When stakes are the highest, face-to-face, eye-to-eye solicitation can make the difference. When people are canvassed, they vote. When they vote, we win.”
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BADGE OF HONOR. U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham had hardly finished introducing Herschel Walker in Buckhead earlier this week when Walker stepped to the podium and held up an honorary police badge. He smiled as the crowd roared its approval.
The former football star isn’t running away from one of the most memorable moments of his debate against Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, when he flaunted the badge amid a heated exchange — drawing bewilderment on social media and a scolding from the moderator.
Instead, the Republican Senate hopeful is leaning into his use of the insignia as, well, a badge of honor. His campaign now has plans to hand out imitation plastic badges that say “I’m with Herschel” at stops around the state this week, including potentially a Macon rally scheduled this morning.
“Herschel Walker has been a friend to law enforcement and has a record of honoring police,” campaign strategist Gail Gitcho told NBC News, echoing Republicans who said they’re happy to highlight the former football star’s past volunteer work with police.
Warnock and his allies don’t seem to mind the increased attention on an issue they’ve highlighted since The Atlanta Journal-Constitution first reported in June that the Republican falsely claimed at least three times that he served in law enforcement, including the FBI.
One prank caller from “The Daily Show” put Walker’s law enforcement know-how to the test, seeking his help to solve the mystery of a missing computer. Walker took his number and said he would call back.
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LOEFFLER PRESSURE. Texts from former Sen. Kelly Loeffler’s phone, reported last night by the AJC, reveal the intense pressure the former senator was getting from both sides as former President Donald Trump worked to overturn the 2020 election results.
Credit: Hyosub Shin / AJC
Credit: Hyosub Shin / AJC
Tricia Raffensperger, the wife of Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, told Loeffler she held her “personally responsible” for the threats against her children and grandchildren after Loeffler called for the secretary’s resignation in November of 2020.
“What kind of person are you that would purposely do this? I am so disappointed, I thought you were better than that!” she wrote.
Other texts reveal U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene pushing Loeffler to join the effort to block certification of the electoral college votes for Joe Biden on January 6, while Loeffler’s own advisers worked that day to push her in the opposite direction.
“This isn’t what we signed on to, we said we would debate and present evidence, not shoot our way through the capital,” one wrote.
On Wednesday, Loeffler’s spokeswoman called the release of the texts a “desperate attempt to distract voters 20 days from the election.”
***
Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC
Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC
PRESIDENT WHO? U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock has faced criticism from the left since he refused to say whether he wants President Joe Biden to run for a second term during his debate against Republican Herschel Walker.
Warnock brought it up Wednesday at an event pitching Latino voters with Lin-Manuel Miranda near downtown Atlanta, noting that journalists “keep asking me about 2024.”
“I think they don’t believe me … I mean it when I say, ‘Why are you asking me about 2024?’ We got folks who need help right now in 2022. And I’m honored to represent them right now. I mean it when I say that is part of the problem in American politics right now.”
Miranda’s Hamilton-esque message to the crowd last night: “History has its eyes on you.”
***
Credit: Screenshot via Atlanta Press Club Facebook page
Credit: Screenshot via Atlanta Press Club Facebook page
CLOSING ARGUMENTS. In the final weeks of his reelection campaign, U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop has been focusing on his seniority and experience after 30 years in Congress.
Challenger Chris West says he is circling the district and speaking to audiences outside of traditional GOP enclaves in hopes of pulling an upset.
But hasn’t been able to keep up with Bishop in fundraising, and some election prognosticators no longer consider the race as competitive as they once did. New polling indicates the incumbent is ahead.
Another imbalance has been the investment of the national parties. Although Republican officials have endorsed West and House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy recently held a fundraiser on his behalf, we haven’t seen the spending on the same level as Democrats are doing to back Bishop.
A political committee aligned with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is sponsoring a new ad that launched Wednesday attacking West on abortion.
The ad, titled “Decide,” highlights remarks West has made in the past indicating he supports banning abortion with no exceptions for rape, incest or to save a woman’s life. At the Atlanta Press Club debate on Sunday, West said that his position has been misconstrued but he did not specify whether he would support any exceptions.
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COVID POSITIVE. A new ad from Gov. Brian Kemp’s leadership committee highlights his decision to allow Georgia businesses to reopen at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, as other states remained shuttered.
Kemp has pointed to that decision as the foundation for Georgia’s rosy economic numbers. But he was broadly criticized at the time by everyone from Donald Trump to Stacey Abrams.
“We broke records for new jobs because we ignored California, New York, and Stacey,” Kemp says in the ad.
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UNDER ARREST. An 80-year-old man from Tunnel Hill in northwest Georgia was arrested near the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday after being found with a cache of weapons.
Tony Payne told Capitol Police that he and two companions were in the area to deliver documents to the U.S. Supreme Court. After illegally parking his white van, Payne was questioned by officers and told them there were three guns in his vehicle.
Capitol Police said that dozens of people are arrested each year for violating a law banning all firearms from Capitol grounds.
Payne was charged with carrying an unregistered firearm, having unregistered ammunition, and carrying a pistol without a license. His passengers were detained initially but did not face charges.
***
Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC
Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC
TRAIL MIX:
- Stacey Abrams took her “Let’s Get it Done” bus tour to Athens Wednesday, where she rallied with young voters across the street from the famous UGA arch.
- GOP lieutenant governor nominee Burt Jones held a Southwest Georgia meet-and-greet in Albany.
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ON THE TRAIL:
- U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock will be in Athens today for a Dawgs for Warnock rally. Democratic attorney general nominee, state Sen. Jen Jordan, joins him.
- Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and GOP U.S. Sens. Rick Scott of Florida, Steve Daines of Montana, and Roger Marshall of Kansas will join Herschel Walker for a “Unite Georgia” bus tour stop in Macon that will also have a theme of supporting law enforcement.
Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC
Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC
- U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, who is not on the ballot, will vote early in Atlanta Thursday.
- Democratic National Committee chairman Jaime Harrison will join attorney general nominee Jen Jordan for a stop on her “Beauty Shop” tour on Friday in Lawrenceville.
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VOTER PROTECTION. If you are a sticker-loving college student, this one’s for you. The union that represents graduate students, faculty and staff at Georgia’s public universities is handing out laptop stickers this week with the slogan: “Condoms do break … Vote!”
The campaign is designed to translate anger over the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade to votes for Democrats at the polls.
The sticker includes a QR code with links to a policy statement, as well as a list of abortion rights candidates on the ballot.
The United Campus Workers of Georgia, Local 3265, plans to distribute the stickers on the campuses of all 26 University System of Georgia schools.
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STORY TIME. Georgia’s booming film industry has become the darling of the state Capitol set, whose work to bring film productions to the state is one of the best good-news stories under the Gold Dome.
Today at the inaugural Georgia Film Summit, a trio of industry powerhouses will launch “The Georgia List,” a homegrown version of Hollywood’s Black List platform, which showcases unproduced work from screenwriters.
After today’s open call for submissions, two writers from the new Georgia List will be selected to be “artists in residence” at the Art Farm at Serenbe. They’ll also receive $10,000 grants and be mentored by screenwriter Jamie Linden. Since we know the Jolt’s readership loves drama and great writing, there must be a few aspiring screenwriters among you, too.
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AS ALWAYS, Jolt readers are some of our favorite tipsters. Send your best scoop, gossip and insider info to patricia.murphy@ajc.com, tia.mitchell@ajc.com and greg.bluestein@ajc.com.
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