Debates are Wade Herring's last chance to capture campaign momentum ahead of election

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Wade Herring, political star, is a supernova.

He flashed bright when he launched his campaign but hasn't emitted much light since.

Herring debates his opponent in the U.S. House race, Rep. Buddy Carter, twice this week in what is likely to be his only chances of attracting public attention this election cycle. Tuesday’s debate was part of the Atlanta Press Club series and will air on Georgia Public Broadcasting while Wednesday’s forum will be staged locally and aired by WTOC.

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Herring’s campaign has gradually lost traction since he entered the race in the summer of 2021, He initially won attention for his criticism of Carter’s vote to overturn the 2020 presidential election results and the congressman’s describing the Jan. 6 attacks on the U.S. Capitol as an act perpetrated by a “few who got out of control.”

He attracted financial support from individual donors and received endorsements from a broad swath of Democratic dignitaries.

The love didn’t translate to the primary, where he needed a runoff to defeat Joyce Marie Griggs. Both the Democratic Party and left-leaning political action committees took notice, declining to invest in his campaign. According to his latest campaign finance report, filed Saturday and reflecting money raised as of Sept. 30, Herring has received an impressive $1.1 million from individual donors but only $5,300 from political party committees and $0 from political action committees.

Those aren't typos. The Democratic Party has contributed less to Herring than you would spend on a decade-old used car. And PACs won't even pay for a tank of gas.

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Individual contributions keep campaigns solvent - the money pays for staff, research and other day-to-day expenses. Its party and PAC money that pays for the stretch run marketing blitz. Herring can tout the fact he's raised almost $1.2 million but he's spent almost all of it. He started October with only $101,801 in his account.

The Georgia Democratic Party sent out a mailer on his behalf focused on Carter’s congressional votes on prescription drug price legislation. Herring’s campaign produced a video highlighting the same topic. Neither of those campaign ads have generated attention.

Herring’s biggest campaign success has been on the social media channel TikTok, where he is known as “the chillest man in America.”

Herring will need plenty of fire in the debates if he intends to spotlight his candidacy again. The showdowns are an opportunity for him to press Carter on his post-election actions and comments, although Carter will no doubt have a well-rehearsed response to those attacks. Carter is a veteran politician - he’s held public office continuously since the 1990s - and is unlikely to make an election-shifting gaffe.

Come Thursday morning, Herring’s star is likely to be burned out.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Buddy Carter, Wade Herring meet in U.S. House debate ahead of election