Race for governor pits Obama's endorsement against Trump's

ATLANTA (AP) The race for Georgia governor now pits an Obama-backed progressive Democrat against a Trump-backed conservative Republican.

Former President Barack Obama on Wednesday endorsed Stacey Abrams in the race to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Nathan Deal.

Obama made the announcement among several nationwide endorsements. He also endorsed Georgia Democrats Sarah Riggs Amico for lieutenant governor, Matthew Wilson for state House District 80 and Shelly Hutchinson for state House District 107.

The former president praised Abrams in a statement, saying she was ``not running a campaign built on division or distraction.'' He called the group a ``wide and impressive array'' of candidates.

President Donald Trump previously weighed into the governor's race, backing Abrams' opponent Republican Brian Kemp. Trump tweeted his ``full and total endorsement'' of Kemp on July 18.