© 2024 WUGA | University of Georgia
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Perdue starts campaign with attacks on Abrams and Kemp

AP Photo/John Bazemore

The newest contender in Georgia’s Republican primary for governor came out punching against incumbent Governor Brian Kemp and presumptive Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams.

Former US Senator David Perdue’s campaign website bills him as “a bold conservative to unite Georgia,” but his first video shows Perdue on the attack against 2018 Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams, who is running again for Governor.

"Abrams will smile, lie, and cheat to transform Georgia into her radical vision of a state that would look more like California," Perdue said in a campaign video.

The former senator also had harsh words for his fellow Republican, Governor Brian Kemp.

"Instead of protecting our elections, he caved to Abrams and cost us two Senate seats, the Senate majority, and gave Joe Biden free reign," Perdue said. "Think about how different it would be today if Kemp had fought Abrams first instead of fighting Trump."

The issue of exactly who is responsible for Perdue’s loss in January’s runoff for US Senate seems to be a likely point of contention between Perdue and Kemp. In a Sunday tweet, Kemp’s super PAC, Georgians First, Inc., said that Perdue, “gave the US Senate to Schumer, Kamala, and Bernie.”

Another major factor in the race is likely to be the role of former President Donald Trump. Trump was a vocal presence in the state during the Senate runoffs, and has been harshly critical of Kemp.

Georgia’s primary elections will be held on May 24, 2022. Early voting begins on May 2.