Democrat Stacey Abrams and Gov. Brian Kemp

A new aggregate of polls show that the race for U.S. Senate is much closer than the gubernatorial race, in which Stacey Abrams (left) trails Gov. Brian Kemp by a few points.

The panel

Emma Hurt, @Emma_Hurt, reporter, Axios Atlanta

Jim Galloway, @JimJournalist, former political columnist, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Leroy Chapman, @AJCLeroyChapman, managing editor, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Rahul Bali, @rahulbali, politics reporter and podcast co-host, “Georgia Votes 2022,” WABE

 

The breakdown

1. Former U.N. Ambassador and governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley has arrived in Georgia to campaign for Gov. Brian Kemp and Herschel Walker. 

  • Haley may be a hopeful for Republicans' 2024 presidential nomination. Regardless, she is one of several high-ranking conservatives to stump for Georgia's candidates, symbolizing Georgia's growing political importance.

LISTEN: Rahul Bali notes the importance of Nikki Haley's visit and the strategy behind campaigning for Indian-American voters.

2. Walker's campaign released a new ad targeting Democrats for divisiveness. Sen. Raphael Warnock's campaign focused on Walker's hesitancy to debate.

  • Warnock and Walker are nearly tied in their race for U.S. Senate. 
  • The Axios story cites Emory's Dr. Andra Gillespie, who says the ad isn't aimed at Black voters, but rather white independents who are "tired of talking about race."
  • Warnock's campaign released a new ad targeting Walker for his attempts to avoid or change debates.

LISTEN: Leroy Chapman says any gaffe at the debate could be ammunition for an opponent.

3. Queen Elizabeth II died yesterday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

  • The monarch reigned for 70 years, becoming queen at 25 years old in 1953. She is succeeded by her son, now King Charles III.

LISTEN: Jim Galloway remembers Queen Elizabeth's tenure.

4.  The race for U.S. Senate is closer than the gubernatorial race. Will Warnock and Walker stay close in polls?

  • From FiveThirtyEight, Kemp has a larger gap over Abrams than Warnock does over Walker.
  • Notably, both Kemp and Warnock are enjoying benefits of incumbency.

5. The latest from the voting machine security breach in Coffee County.

  • The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has opened an investigation into Sidney Powell's apparent involvement in a security firm acquiring sensitive voting information from a Coffee County elections office.
  • The Fulton County special grand jury investigating the 2020 election has also signaled interest.

 

Monday on Political Rewind: Patricia Murphy joins our Monday panel.

Tags: Georgia  Atlanta  Macon  Savannah  Nikki Haley  Queen Elizabeth II  voting  debates  political ads  Brian Kemp