Then-President Donald Trump elbow bumps Herschel Walker during a 2020 campaign rally in Atlanta. Walker filed paperwork Tuesday to run for U.S. Senate in the key swing state of Georgia.
Caption

In this Sept. 25, 2020, file photo, President Donald Trump elbow bumps with Herschel Walker during a campaign rally in Atlanta. Walker appears to have a coveted political profile for a potential Senate candidate in Georgia.

Credit: John Bazemore, AP

Wednesday on Political Rewind: The guessing game is over — Herschel Walker filed paperwork yesterday to run for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock in 2022.

Polling reveals Walker’s name recognition is high in the state. The storied college football star has long been touted by former President Donald Trump as his pick for the key Senate race. But some Republicans worry about Walker’s personal baggage, and his inexperience as a first-time candidate.

Plus, how has Georgia U.S. Rep. Carolyn Boudreaux emerged from the moderates’ fight to slow President Biden’s sweeping social reform package?

Meanwhile, Gov. Brian Kemp ordered the deployment of more than 100 National Guard medical personnel to Georgia hospitals straining to treat the crush of patients arriving with COVID-19. His action comes as the shortage of nurses in Georgia medical facilities reaches new highs.

Also: Immigrants from Afghanistan living in Georgia respond to the turmoil in the country of their birth.

Panelists:

Riley Bunch — Public policy reporter, Georgia Public Broadcasting

Greg Bluestein — Politics reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tia Mitchell — Washington reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Fred Smith — Professor of constitutional law, Emory University