Georgia primaries: The long shadow of Donald Trump

Sebastian Hesse
ARD-Studio Washington

–
–
–
–

–

Georgia’s governor Brian Kemp puts an election campaign halt here in rural Eatonton. Kemp resembles Hollywood actor Nick Nolte. In chinos and a lumberjack shirt, he gets off the bus, greets the local Republican leader, shakes hands and poses for selfies. Four years ago, the contractor and career changer in politics surprisingly beat the promising Democratic candidate, Stacey Abrams.

Kemp took on Trump

In Georgia, Kemp is popular. Such a person is re-elected. But the 58-year-old has made a powerful enemy. After the 2020 presidential election, Kemp and his Secretary of the Interior, Brad Raffensperger, refused to rig the Georgia election results in Donald Trump’s favor.

In a phone call that has become public, Trump urged his two party friends to somehow get him 11,780 additional votes. That is what he lacked to win in Georgia. Kemp and his chief election commissioner resisted. In Georgia, the public prosecutor’s office is now investigating Trump on suspicion of attempted election fraud.

Republicans in conflict of conscience

The man humiliated in Georgia has chosen Brian Kemp as his intimate enemy. No public appearance without Trump scolding Kemp with contempt in his voice, calling him a “defect”, a “coward”, a “disaster”. At Eatonton, Kemp deliberately avoids even mentioning Trump or his primary favorite, David Perdue. That’s strategy: Kemp knows his popularity and prefers to talk about past successes and future challenges in a thick Southern accent.

His listeners thank him for that, because they are in a conflict of conscience. “I don’t know what to think of that,” says Judy Rodgers, “because I’m actually a big Trump fan!” Rodgers wears a Kemp T-shirt, wants to re-elect the governor and mourns the loss of the Trump presidency.

Billy Webster, the Republican leader in Putnam County, shrugs. “Trump is still very influential,” says the man with the twirled mustache, “but this is where he got completely lost!” All the polls point to a landslide victory for Kemp over his Trump-sponsored rival David Perdue.

The incumbent owes his popularity to clever moves: When energy prices exploded, Kemp gave voters a “gas tax holiday” – a suspension of the mineral oil tax until the end of May, after the primary. This is how you win elections, confirms Bill Nigut from “Georgia Public Radio”, who has been reporting on elections in America for decades: “Supporting Trump is just one of many factors that decide the election.”

Traditionally conservative state with a sudden shift to the left

Change of scene: Two hours’ drive north-west of Eatonton, in Woodstock, in the restaurant “Semper Fi Bar and Grille” people are praying. Those present give thanks in prayer for living in a free country with free elections. The “Semper Fi” is aimed primarily at veterans of the US armed forces. The saloon-style venue is decorated with uniforms, photos of military operations, army recruiting posters and other militaria.

David Perdue, Trump’s Kemp challenger, is due to appear here in a few minutes. Up until a year ago, Perdue served as a Senator for Georgia in the US Congress. But then the traditionally conservative southern state surprisingly moved to the left: Georgia’s Republicans not only lost the presidential election, they also lost both Senate seats. A disaster for the party.

The lie of electoral fraud still pulls

Trump’s attempts to turn around the defeat failed and since then not only his smear campaign against Kemp has been going on. Trump urged David Perdue, an early proponent of the voter fraud allegation, to run against Kemp. He spent a record-breaking $2.6 million on his campaign, more than any other candidate this primary season.

Kyle Read, who is waiting for Perdue at “Semper Fi”, thinks that’s absolutely right. “Kemp didn’t do what was expected of him,” Kyle says, “he could have prevented Trump’s election being stolen!”

His table neighbor Elaine Guarino agrees. She, too, mourns the loss of the President. “Does that mean I want to spend my free time with Trump?” Elaine asks. “No! He’s arrogant, a real jerk, but a fantastic businessman!” At best, Ronald Reagan did as much for the country as Trump.

Ballot with signal effect?

Kyle and Elaine have both already voted by mail: for Perdue. Of course you know the lousy poll numbers of the 72-year-old. And they concede that his monothematic campaign is too fixated on the past: on the alleged electoral fraud, on Trump’s vendetta against Kemp.

Perdue supporters were horrified that former Vice President Mike Pence recently interfered in the primaries. Pence drummed demonstratively for Kemp – the most visible expression of his rift with his former boss, Trump. “I’m disappointed in Pence, very disappointed,” admits Perdue.

And so the ballot in Georgia has long been overshadowed by the Republican power struggle within the party. Trump supporters are once again looking to Georgia with concern. And the Trump critics hope that Kemp’s expected victory will send a strong signal to the party: that it is not political suicide to oppose Trump as a Republican.