Abrams and Kemp face off in Georgia governor’s debate

Kemp and Abrams at the debate Sunday.

The vast differences between Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Democrat Stacey Abrams were on full display in the closing statements on Sunday night.

But both candidates made the same promise: To put Georgians first.

She added: “I want to do better by Georgia. I want to put you first every single day.”

Abrams pledged to “defend us against danger by strengthening our gun laws, but also want to defend our rights as women by eliminating the abortion ban and restoring a woman’s right to control her body,” and said she had “spent my life as someone who believes in doing right by people … and what we need today is for you to do right. I am asking for your trust and your vote.”

Kemp’s closing statement was upbeat about the trajectory of Georgia. He briefly attacked Abrams’ view of his leadership but focused mostly on where he believed he had found success.

He added: “When I ran for governor, I made a very simple promise to people: I told them I would put them first ahead of the status quo and the politically correct. … And that is exactly what I have done.”

Abrams speaks at the debate Sunday.

Abrams lambasted Georgia’s 2021 voting law, SB 202, saying that the new law is being used to cast doubt on the eligibility of some registered voters in this year’s election.

“Let’s be clear that the voter suppression that I’m talking about is being felt by Georgians every single day,” she said, citing the example of a college student who couldn’t get information on why her eligibility was being challenged.

The law, approved by Georgia’s Republican-led legislature and signed into law by Kemp last year, has tightened restrictions on mail-in voting, limits the use of ballot drop boxes and more.

Kemp responded by pointing to archaic voting laws in Democratic-run New York and noting that early voting has been open for two more weeks in Georgia than the Empire State.

“We have laws in our state that make things easy to vote and hard to cheat,” he said, claiming that Abrams has been “running around and scaring people about suppressive votes and suppressive legislation.”

Kemp at the debate on Sunday.

Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has a common complaint: Democrat Stacey Abrams attacking his record.

It’s a strange grievance – attacking someone’s record and noting how yours differs is the point of a debate and happens in every contest at every level. It’s particularly common in debates involved an incumbent like Kemp.

But that hasn’t stopped the Republican governor, who has repeatedly protested the focus on his record.

“Miss Abrams is going to attack my record because she doesn’t want to talk about her own record,” Kemp said in response to a question on crime. “I’m not the mayor. I’m the governor.”

Later in the debate, the focus on Kemp’s record became a flashpoint.

During a back-and-forth on gun violence, Kemp again said Abrams was “attacking my record because she doesn’t want us talking about hers.”

The comment compelled Abrams to respond.

“I am happy to talk about my record, I have done so repeatedly. But I have not been in office the last four years, so I was not the governor when gun violence went up in Georgia,” Abrams said.

Kemp at the debate Sunday.

Kemp has doubled down on the issue he has made central to his reelection argument: How Georgia reopened during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“You remember when Joe Biden made a big deal about the United States of America being back to pre-pandemic unemployment levels?” Kemp said. “Georgia did that nine months before the rest of the country did because we gave you the choice.”

Kemp argued Abrams would have supported mandates for vaccines and masks. 

Abrams shot back, suggesting Kemp’s decision to reopen early was based on concern about large corporations. 

“38,800 people died in the state of Georgia. He had one of the highest death rates in the nation,” said Abrams. 

CNN’s Michael Warren notes that as he has spoken with Democratic-leaning donors in Georgia who said they were voting for Kemp, two issues kept coming up:

The first commercial break in Sunday’s gubernatorial debate was a quick one and featured just two ads: one highlighting Republican Senate nominee Herschel Walker’s history with violent outbursts toward women, followed by an ad tying Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock to President Joe Biden’s policies.

Ads like these have become inescapable in Georgia as both the Senate and governor’s races have been two of the most expensive campaigns in the country.

When I was talking with voters in a suburb north of Atlanta earlier this month, a frustrated mother told me she’s even seen an anti-Walker ad before a children’s YouTube video she was playing for her infant daughter.

Abrams at the debate Sunday.

Just circling back to one notable exchange during the debate over crime policy.

Gov. Brian Kemp had argued that he has the firm backing of law enforcement around the state, in part because of statements that his Democratic opponent, Stacey Abrams, has made about police and police funding (the characterization of which she disputes).

But in response, Abrams spoke from personal experience about how members of her family have been targeted by police because of the color of their skin.

After Kemp noted that he has the endorsement of 107 sheriffs around this state, Abrams was ready with a quick retort.

“As I pointed out before, I’m not a member of the good old boys club,” Abrams said. “So no, I don’t have 107 sheriffs who want to be able to take Black people off the streets, who want to be able to go without accountability. I don’t believe every sheriff wants that. But I do know that we need a governor who believes in both defending law enforcement – but also defending the people of Georgia. I have two brothers, one who has committed crimes and one who was a social worker – trying to help keep people from committing crimes.”

“My brother who commits crimes should be held accountable,” she continued. “But my other brother should never be pulled over for driving while Black. And yet in this Georgia, he is. I’m running for governor because we lead complicated lives. And we need a governor who’s willing to hold law enforcement accountable, but also be supportive.”

Kemp at the debate Sunday.

Kemp is being very careful to portray himself as anything but an extremist.

While he has occasionally engaged with Abrams, he has, by and large, avoided any sort of sharp back and forth with her. This is likely a function of a) Kemp believes he is comfortably ahead and doesn’t need to take risks and b) he is wary of coming across as too aggressive — particularly on abortion — when debating a woman.

Kemp has repeatedly noted that he believes Abrams is attacking his record because she doesn’t want to talk about her own.

Kemp and Abrams at the debate Sunday.

Halfway through the debate, one person is notable in his absence: former President Donald Trump.

Neither Abrams nor Kemp have mentioned the billionaire businessman. 

For Kemp, it speaks to the rocky relationship he has had with the former President, who has attacked him for refusing to overturn the 2020 election results in the state.

For Abrams, Trump may be popular enough in the state that she doesn’t view it as politically advantageous to spend time linking Kemp to him.

Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams speaks during the debate Sunday.

In a fiery answer over abortion, Democrat Stacey Abrams invoked Republican Senate nominee Herschel Walker and the series of abortion allegations against him to attack Republican incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp.

“We know that under this governor, women are in danger,” said Abrams, adding later, “More importantly he refuses to protect us … and yet he defended Herschel Walker, saying that he didn’t want to be involved in the personal life of his running mate. But he doesn’t mind being involved in the personal lives and personal medical choices of women in Georgia.”

Abrams later addressed the lack of health care among Georgia women.

Walker, who is running in a tight Senate race against Democrat Raphael Warnock, is facing allegations that he paid for two women to terminate their pregnancies. Walker has denied those allegations.

When Kemp was asked about the allegations against Walker, he said he was “supporting the ticket.”

Kemp did not address the Walker allegations, giving an answer that acknowledged some Georgia voters don’t agree with his more conservative views on the issue. In 2019, Kemp signed a bill that bans most abortions when early cardiac activity is detected, which can be as early as six weeks into a pregnancy – when many women don’t yet know they’re pregnant.

While attacking Abrams on the issue, Kemp tried to use his commitment on the issue as a plus, even if voters disagree with him.

“I can understand people can disagree on policy. At least people know where I have been. I have been consistent, I have been transparent, I did the exactly things I said I could do. And think that is a good reason for people to reelect me,” the governor said.

Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, left, and Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams face off during their debate, in Atlanta, Sunday.

Crime has been a major issue in many midterm races around the country and it quickly became a flashpoint between Gov. Brian Kemp and his Democratic opponent Stacey Abrams in Sunday’s gubernatorial debate.

When the moderator noted that Atlanta is experiencing record violent crime, Kemp insisted that he was out in front addressing that issue – identifying street gangs and cartels as a problem before others were paying attention.

But he soon pivoted to criticize Abrams as an ally of progressive groups who sought to “defund the police” following the death of George Floyd, who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020.

“Go check the record, because Ms. Abrams on CNN got asked the question, would she defund the police? And she said, yes, we have to reallocate resources. That means defunding the police,” Kemp said.

But Abrams said Kemp was lying about her record. She noted that under his leadership, violent crime and gun violence have gone up in Georgia.

Abrams added that Kemp was distorting her record on police funding.

“I believe in public safety. I did not say, and nor do I believe, in defunding the police,” she said. “He is lying again. And I’ve never said that. I believe in the funding the police. I believe in public safety and accountability.”

Abrams has proposed providing $25 million in state grants to local agencies for pay increases for law enforcement. 

In June, Kemp joined Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens for a ribbon cutting ceremony at a new police precinct in Atlanta’s well-to-do community of Buckhead.

Kemp at the time touted state and local law enforcement working together to combat crime in Atlanta.

“Public safety has no political boundaries,” Kemp said. “Whether you’re Republican, you’re Democrat or whether you don’t care. You want your neighborhood to be safe, you want your streets to be safe and that’s what today is all about: fulfilling the No. 1 duty of government by protecting its citizens.”

Even as Gov. Brian Kemp is trying to tie Stacey Abrams to President Joe Biden, Abrams just made an attempt to link the incumbent to Herschel Walker, the GOP Senate nominee.

In an answer on abortion, Abrams noted that Kemp gave a non-answer when it came to allegations against Walker from two women who have said he urged them to have abortions in years past. (Walker has repeatedly denied these allegations.)

Kemp and Abrams have had to make arguments about the economy that run counter to their national parties’ message on the subject. The first few minutes of Sunday’s debate demonstrated how Kemp’s incumbency has flipped the script on the economy in 2022.

While Republicans are running nationally against Washington Democrats’ handling of a sluggish economy and high inflation, Kemp has argued that his first term in office has been a boon for Georgians’ pocketbooks. In his opening statement, Kemp said Georgia is experiencing its lowest unemployment rate and has the “most people working” than ever before in the state’s history. He also cited strong economic development achievements and touted his willingness to reopen the state for business very soon after the beginning of the pandemic. 

Kemp nodded to the national GOP’s message criticizing President Joe Biden’s economic record when he noted that Georgian workers’ wages are going up. 

Abrams, meanwhile, went after the “economic pain” being felt by Georgians – echoing the national GOP’s rhetoric about the country this midterm cycle. Her focus, of course, was on Kemp’s own track record, citing specifically the state’s restrictive abortion and voting laws as turning away employers from expanding their operations into Georgia.

Abrams said Kemp’s policies have “put the wealthy and the powerful first” and promised to be a better steward for federal monies coming to the state.

Kemp echoed national Republicans’ mantra – alleging that Abrams wants to defund the police and end cash bail, while Abrams said she has “never” called for defunding the police and said Kemp is lying about her record.

These are attacks that are being used by Republicans against Democrats all over the country. And a recent Gallup poll showed why Republicans are so laser-focused on crime as an issue. The polling showed that peoples’ concerns about local crime are at their highest in five decades.

Read more here:

Adam Laxalt, Ron Johnson and JD Vance

Related article Crime comes to the forefront of Republican messaging ahead of Election Day | CNN Politics

Kemp and Abrams offered much different visions of what Georgia’s governor can do to fight inflation, with Kemp focusing on tax cuts and Abrams proposing more government help footing bills for health care, education and more.

Kemp repeatedly pinned blame on President Joe Biden for rising prices.

He touted this year’s one-time $1 billion tax credit and the temporary suspension of Georgia’s 29-cent-per-gallon gas tax “to just help them fight through the 40-year-high Biden inflation.”

Abrams, meanwhile, sought to blame Kemp, saying that inflation in Georgia is worse than in 36 other states.

She said she would seek to expand Medicaid, an option under Obamacare that would grow the pool of low-income residents eligible for the program. She also said she would push to make technical college free and expand affordable housing efforts.

Gov. Brian Kemp, perhaps in a sign that he believes he is comfortably ahead in the race, didn’t mention Stacey Abrams in his opening statement.

Instead, the Republican focused on the accomplishments of his four years in office and said he hoped to earn viewers’ votes. 

Abrams, on the other hand, went right at Kemp. The Democrat said, “Under this governor, the pain is getting worse.”

She also blasted Kemp’s policies, claiming that they favor the wealthy.

rules for the second debate between between Republican incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp and Democrat Stacey Abrams in Georgia are straight forward: Each candidate will have 90 seconds for their response to a question and 45 seconds for rebuttals.

Justin Farmer, the host of tonight’s debate, said the questions would focus on the economy, affordable housing, crime, election integrity and other issues. Some questions will come from a panel of other journalists.

Candidates for the debate had to reach a 10% polling threshold.

Republican Gov. Brian Kemp is one of the rare GOP contenders this political cycle who has survived an onslaught of derision and criticism from former President Donald Trump. Kemp became one of Trump’s chief targets after he rebuffed the former President’s requests for him to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia.

Trump called Kemp the “worst governor in America” and a “Republican in name only.” At one point, he suggested that Kemp’s Democratic opponent, Stacey Abrams, “might be better than having your existing governor.” And he recruited David Perdue, one of the state’s former senators, to run against Kemp in the primary.

But Trump’s effort to torpedo Kemp turned out to be an embarrassing failure and the primary election proved to be a rebuke of his lies about the 2020 election. Throughout the primary, Kemp ignored Trump’s criticism and kept a steady focus on reminding Georgia voters of his conservative credentials – from his early re-opening of Georgia in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, to the law he signed restricting mail-in voting, to his backing of a law allowing most Georgians to carry a concealed firearm without a license.

As he clinched victory in the primary, Kemp made no mention of Trump in his speech beyond an allusion to just how hard the former President had made it for him to win: “Even in the middle of a tough primary, conservatives across our state didn’t listen to the noise,” Kemp said at the College Football Hall of Fame in downtown Atlanta.

“They didn’t get distracted; they knew our record of fighting and winning for hard-working Georgians.”

One thing you’re almost certain to hear tonight: Gov. Brian Kemp (or possibly a debate moderator) asking Democrat Stacey Abrams about her refusal to “concede” following her loss to Kemp in their 2018 contest.

Abrams’ choice of words on the night she ended her campaign for governor four years ago, after exhausting a handful of legal challenges, has become a talking point for Kemp and national Republicans, typically in trying to make a false equivalence between the actions of Abrams and what former President Donald Trump did – and didn’t do – after losing the 2020 election.

Kemp and Georgia GOP Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, though they rebuffed Trump’s efforts to overturn the results in the key swing state, have sought to use Abrams’ words against her – claiming, as Raffensperger wrote in a December 6, 2020 Wall Street Journal op-ed, that she was responsible for “establishing a playbook that President Trump is following to the letter right now” by refusing “to concede.”

Abrams has argued that Kemp and Georgia GOP leaders used the tools of the state to suppress the vote four years ago. But even so, she acknowledged Kemp’s certification and that she no longer had legal avenues.

Here is what Abrams said during her non-concession concession speech on November 16, 2018:

 “I acknowledge that former Secretary of State Brian Kemp will be certified as the victor in the 2018 gubernatorial election. But to watch an elected official, who claims to represent the people in this state, baldly pin his hopes for election on the suppression of the people’s democratic right to vote has been truly appalling. So, let’s be clear, this is not a speech of concession. Concession means to acknowledge an action is right, true or proper. As a woman of conscience and faith, I cannot concede that. But my assessment is that the law currently allows no further viable remedy.” 

This is quite different from what Trump did in the aftermath of his loss to Joe Biden. Ten days after the 2018 midterms, Abrams did what Trump still refuses to do nearly two full years after the 2020 vote – admit defeat.

A person uses a voting machine to fill out and cast their ballot as early voting continues for the midterm elections at a polling location in Americus, Georgia, on Tuesday, October 25.

The American electorate is more polarized than ever. Just one state voted differently for president and senator in the 2020 election. 

Yet, Georgia may be one of a number of states that may elect candidates of different parties for senator and governor. 

Let’s look at the four closest swing states that Biden won in 2020. 

The polling in Georgia has shown Kemp clearly ahead and Warnock and Walker in a tight race.

In Arizona, we see a similar pattern of the Democratic Senate incumbent (Mark Kelly) doing better than the Democrat running for governor (Katie Hobbs). 

Pennsylvania and Wisconsin show the opposite trend. The Democratic gubernatorial nominees are running ahead of the Democratic Senate nominees. 

The fact is that there are fewer swing voters than there used to be, but that is countered by the fact that there are a lot of close races this year. A small shift in the vote could make the difference in a number of contests. 

Democrats have long hoped at turning the Sun Belt blue as Republicans make up ground in the area commonly known as the Rust Belt in the north. This year, they had dreams of winning or at least being strongly competitive in a number of Sun Belt states led by Republican governors such as Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Texas. 

They’re not favored to win in any of these races right now, including in Georgia. 

Part of the problem is that this is shaping up to be a Republican-leaning year nationally. The most Democratic of the states in the list above is arguably Arizona, which Biden won by well less than a point. Biden won Georgia too, but, again, by the thinnest of margins. 

The other big problem for Democrats is that they need to win by big margins among voters of color (Blacks and Hispanics) to win in the Sun Belt. Polling, however, has shown that Democrats are weaker this year among Black voters (pivotal in Georgia) and among Hispanic voters than they were both in 2018 and 2020. two