Brian Kemp Walks Away As the Big Loser From This Weekend’s Trump Rally in Georgia
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “The Rally Was As Much Anti-Kemp As It Was Pro-Trump.”
This weekend, Donald Trump continued his attacks on Gov. Brian Kemp at a rally in Georgia, touting the need to challenge Kemp, saying, “I’m telling you, I think there’s something wrong with them … your RINO Governor Brian Kemp has been a disaster on election integrity.”
The GOP infighting is a major crisis for Kemp, who was already vulnerable because of his failed record on COVID-19, refusal to support fully expanding Medicaid, and harmful voter suppression bill. Making it even worse for Kemp, in interviews with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Trump’s hand-picked slate of challengers all declined to defend Kemp.
Here’s what the media are saying about how Trump’s rally was a disaster for Kemp:
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “The rally was as much anti-Kemp as it was pro-Trump.”
- Georgia Public Broadcasting: Trump “launched withering attacks on incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp … Not since Sherman’s March to the Sea more than 150 years ago has Georgia seen someone so intent on burning everything to the ground — at least figuratively this time — like Trump is doing to those within his own party that do not cater to his whims.”
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Greg Bluestein: “The texts I’m getting from Republican officials: ‘What a shit show.’ ‘We have reached a new low.’ ‘I am just so mad — beyond words.’”
- Associated Press: “Georgia rally marks debut of GOP primary ‘Trump ticket’ … Trump’s scorn for Kemp was clear on Saturday.”
- BuzzFeed: “Former President Donald Trump continued his attacks against Gov. Brian Kemp during a Saturday night rally in Georgia … It’s a precarious situation for Republican candidates who need to balance attracting Trump supporters to vote for them while also asserting that there wasn’t widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election.”
- The Hill: “Former President Trump’s looming presence over next year’s midterm elections in Georgia has made the state a hotbed for the intraparty battles that await Republicans in 2022 … He will campaign against anyone who challenges that claim, including Raffensperger and Gov. Brian Kemp (R), a one-time ally who ran afoul of Trump when he certified the 2020 election results against the former president’s wishes.”
- Newsweek: “[Trump] slammed Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger during the rally for refusing his requests to advance a review of the election results.”
- New York Post: “Trump calls Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp a ‘disaster’ at rally.”
- Vox’s Aaron Rupar: “Mitch McConnell gets booed at the #TrumpRally, Brian Kemp gets even bigger boos.”
DGA Deputy Communications Director Sam Newton said: “Donald Trump’s rally in Georgia this weekend was an absolute disaster for Brian Kemp. Trump has a tight hold on the Georgia GOP, and he’ll do everything in his power — from hand-picking challengers to flinging insults — to stop Kemp from being re-elected. Kemp is rapidly losing the support of his own party, which is an especially big problem given the rest of Georgia voters will be quick to reject his unpopular policies.”
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