Trump’s Attacks on Georgia Governor Kemp Worry GOP Strategists
[Justin Lane/Pool via AP Photo]
Following former President Donald Trump’s rally at a Georgia State University arena earlier this month, concerns have emerged among Republican activists and strategists about the potential fallout from his attacks on Georgia Governor Brian Kemp. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution‘s (AJC) Greg Bluestein, some within the GOP fear that Trump’s criticisms could jeopardize his chances of winning Georgia in the upcoming election.
“A lot of Republicans like me might just decide not to vote at all in the presidential election because of stupid antics like tonight,” former Georgia lawmaker Allen Peake told the AJC. “Trump may have just lost Georgia.”
Since the rally, Trump’s campaign activity in Georgia has been minimal, and his recent rambling, hourlong press conference has raised questions among political experts about his mental acuity. Wall Street Journal reporter Cameron McWhirter notes that Georgia GOP leaders and strategists remain skeptical of Trump’s ability to secure a victory in the state this November.
“Georgia Republicans, Georgia independents, and swing voters don’t want divisiveness,” GOP consultant Stephen Lawson told the WSJ. “They don’t want a relitigation of 2020.” Lawson, who previously worked on former U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler’s (R-GA) 2020 campaign, added, “We know exactly how this story ends. If he’s not running on the issues, he’s going to lose.”
State Senator Larry Walker III, a prominent Georgia Republican, described Trump’s comments as “definitely unproductive and unwarranted,” warning that continued infighting would make it more difficult for Republicans to win Georgia. Veteran GOP strategist Ryan Mahoney went even further, suggesting that Trump’s actions could be “political suicide.” He insisted, “We’ve seen this movie before, and the former president’s baseless and ill-advised remarks will make it damn near impossible for Republicans to prevail in November.”
McWhirter also reported that a Trump spokeswoman did not respond to inquiries about whether Trump and Kemp would campaign together or whether the two camps were in communication. When previously asked about Trump’s Atlanta speech, the spokeswoman directed attention to Trump’s Truth Social post criticizing Kemp.
As the election approaches, the rift within the Georgia GOP highlights the challenges Trump faces in a key battleground state, with many in the party questioning whether his strategy will ultimately hurt their chances of winning in November.
