Political Rewind: New polling a snapshot of Georgia mood on politics; Warnock outraises Walker

The Panel:

Dr. Andra Gillespie — Professor of political science and director, James Weldon Johnson for the Study of Race and Difference at Emory University

Rene Alegria — CEO, Mundo Hispanico Digital

Patricia Murphy — Politics reporter and columnist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Breakdown:

1. New polling is a glimpse into the political opinions of Georgia's registered voters.

• A new poll released by Quinnipiac University showed Gov. Brian Kemp with the lead over primary challenger David Perdue.
  • The poll surveyed 1702 self-described registered voters across Georgia between Jan. 19 and Jan. 24, 2022.
• Earlier this week, a poll was conducted by the University of Georgia’s School of Public and International Affairs for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  • It surveyed 872 registered voters in Georgia and reported a margin of error of 3.3 percentage points.
  • Among other things, that poll found only a third of the Georgia voters polled approved of the job President Joe Biden is doing.

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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Patricia Murphy said the polling is especially significant when looking at Biden's approval numbers over time.

2. Conservative movement to ban books and materials in Georgia schools has momentum. 

• Measures in the General Assemblyaim to make it easier for parents to get involved in how classes are taught and what subjects are taught in schools.

Another measure aims to bar the teaching of "critical race theory," which has become a stand-in term among conservatives for conversations about race and American history in education.

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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Patricia Murphy said society has an obligation to teach history to its young people.

3. Herschel Walker's challenge to Sen. Raphael Warnock.

• Walker, a former college football player, has never served in elected office.However, his name recognition is helped by his famous sports career.
  • Other Republicans in the race, including Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black, are behind Walker in recent polling.

4. Justice Breyer announced retirement, paving way for a Biden Supreme Court appointment.

• Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, who served nearly three decades on the high court, announced his retirement on Thursday.
• The announcement paves the way for President Joe Biden to make a consequential nomination to the Supreme Court.
  • Biden said he would name a nominee by the end of February, and that his pick would be a Black woman.

Tonight: Watch Political Rewind with Bill Nigut tonight at 7 p.m. on GPB-TV.

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