Friday March 29th, 2024 7:14AM

Kemp, Abrams bring in political heavyweights with just one week to go before election day

Just a week before the midterm election, a full house applauded Secretary of State and Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp as he entered a popular Gainesville breakfast spot Tuesday morning.

Kemp made the stop at the Longstreet Cafe on Riverside Terrace as part of his "Road to Victory" bus tour just seven days ahead of the election. He was joined by Governor Nathan Deal, who shared his support for Kemp's plans for Georgia after describing some of the successes he's seen as governor.

"I know that Brian is someone who will stand against that (the opposition's plans) and I'm just going to ask you to do what Butch (Miller) asked you to do and what Doug (Collins) asked you to do - and that is, be sure you vote," said Deal.

Along with the support of Governor Deal, several local leaders attended the rally, including 29th District State Representative Matt Dubnik, 9th District Congressman Doug Collins, 49th District Senator Butch Miller. 

Kemp was also joined by his wife and children, and after thanking the small business that opened their doors to him Tuesday, he told the crowd he felt people go into the agriculture industry because they want to, not because they have to.

"I know being in the poultry capital of the world - Gary Black being the agriculture commissioner and I and the rest of this ticket would agree that we understand how important agriculture is and appreciate farmers in agriculture," said Kemp. "We don't go for the fact you shouldn't have to go into agriculture. People are born in to it, they want to go in to it, because we literally feed our own people and the world, and that is a noble, honorable, thing."

Kemp referred to his Democratic opponent, Stacey Abrams, who said previously at Georgia Southern University that Georgians should not have to rely on the agriculture or hospitality industries, later clarifying in a tweet that she meant diversifying the economy and raising wages.

Kemp also thanked military members and law enforcement, before sharing details about his political history and encouraging the crowd to go out and vote in a "battle for the soul of our state."

Kemp also reminded the crowd that he and his family live in the 9th Congressional district in Clarke County. Abrams lives in Atlanta.

Both Kemp and Abrams will have celebrity guests promoting them before election day. Kemp will welcome President Donald Trump on Sunday in Macon and Vice President Mike Pence will visit Thursday in Dalton, Grovetown and Savannah.

Former President Barack Obama will take the stage with Abrams at Morehouse College on Friday. Abrams made a campaign stop in Gainesville this past Friday, hosting a rally at Brenau University at the invitation of the university's Young Democrats. Abrams was on stage with fellow Democrats Sarah Riggs Amico, who is running for Lt. Governor, and Josh McCall, the Democratic challenger for Georgia's 9th Congressional District.  

"This is a turnout election. She's bringing in people from all over the country, from New York and California, to campaign with her, people like Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker and Maxine Waters. All of those people, in my opinion, are way to extreme for Georgia, but she's trying to turn her base out," said Kemp at a press conference following the stop. "And we're doing the same thing. That's why the president's coming, the vice president's coming."

Before getting back on the bus, Kemp took a few minutes to meet with attendees and speak to the media before heading onwards to the next stop in Cleveland.

Kemp's last stop on the bus tour will be November 3, in Peachtree City.

Kemp will face Abrams and Libertarian candidate Ted Metz at the polls next Tuesday.

  • Associated Categories: Homepage, Local/State News, Election 2018
  • Associated Tags: Brian Kemp, Election 2018, Georgia governor's race
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