Political Rewind: Georgia's role in Judge Jackson's historic confirmation; Latest on big ad spending

Credit: Manuel Balce Ceneta, AP

The panel:

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

Dr. Charles Bullock — Professor of political science, University of Georgia

Rick Dent — Vice president, Matrix Communications

The breakdown:

1. Georgia's role in the confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to U.S. Supreme Court.

• On Thursday, the U.S. Senate voted 53 to 47 to confirm Jackson to the highest court in the country.
  • Jackson is the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court.
• Georgia's elected Democratic officials highlighted the role Georgia voters played in the confirmation.
  • Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff helped provide the votes needed for the confirmation.
• The confirmation hearings were marked by pointed accusations from Republican senators. 

2. New polling reveals support for candidates vying for the governor's race.

• Despite Gov. Brian Kemp being ahead in polls, the incumbent only had 43% of likely voters.
• Challenger David Perdue is polling much lower, but he still has a chance to make up the difference in the lead-up to the May 24 primary.
• In the race for Senate, Republican challenger Herschel Walker was favored in both the GOP primary and the general election against Democratic incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock.
  • Warnock saw 45% support to Walker's 49, according to a poll of more than a thousand Georgians.

3. Millions are being spent as the primary approaches in May.

• Democrats have spent $54 million for Warnock's reelection campaign.
  • Walker has so far spent less than 5% of Warnock's total spending.

Monday on Political Rewind:

Professors Fred Smith and Audrey Haynes join our panel.