'It'll be a complete 180': Gov. Kemp rallies Augusta area voters just days before election

Several Georgians running for office have visited the Augusta area to raise support ahead of the midterm elections, except for Gov. Brian Kemp. But with just a few days left before Nov. 8, the governor stopped in Evans to rally voters and discuss the highlights of his platform.

The local Republican parties put together a "Breakfast with Brian Kemp" Saturday morning under the pavilion at Evans Towne Center Park. Around 100 people enjoyed breakfast biscuits as they talked to and shook hands with Kemp. Many were dressed in Republican red complimented by Georgia Bulldog red fan gear in preparation of UGA's game against the Tennessee Volunteers later that day. Kemp did his own pumping up by shouting "Go Dawgs!" during the start and end of his speech, and his supporters joked that he was anxious to get back to Athens.

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After a very brief introduction by Augusta businessman Don Grantham and State Rep. Jodi Lott, Kemp explained how they are working hard to make sure Stacey Abrams does not become governor. A large chunk of his speech involved criticizing Democrats, particularly Abrams, emphasizing that, come Election Day, "We wouldn't move off kilter a little bit if we don't turn out Tuesday. It'll be a complete 180."

On election reform, Kemp took pride in passing Senate Bill 202, calling it "the strongest elections integrity act in the country that makes it easy to vote and hard to cheat despite Stacey Abrams and President Biden and the woke corporate CEO's and Major League Baseball all crying 'Foul!' They struck out."

The latter portion of his statement referred to MLB moving its All-Star Game out of Atlanta in reaction to the bill's passing in 2021. Many have considered it a very restrictive piece of legislation that creates barriers for voters of color.

A couple other topics Kemp did a compare-contrast of include school operations during the COVID-19 pandemic and law enforcement. On the former, he called out Abrams for fighting against his efforts to bring students back to in-person education last year. On the latter, he promised that, if re-elected, he would support and never defund the police, while Abrams wants to defund them. Kemp criticized Abrams of this before at the last gubernatorial debate on Oct. 30, during which Abrams denied the accusation and declared her support for law enforcement.

Abrams has also been very critical of her opponent, especially during her last visit to Augusta on Oct. 27. One issue she raised there and at other events was Kemp's failure to expand medicaid. When asked about this, the governor called medicaid "a broken government program" and "that's why we did two waivers to expand medicaid for certain populations but also to provide a pathway where they can get on an affordable private sector plan."

That waiver plan was initially approved under the Trump Administration, but it was blocked by Biden's last summer until a judge ruled that Georgia could proceed. Kemp said he looks forward to putting their plan into action, but that this issue speaks to an overarching problem.

"Stacey Abrams wants government to control everything in your life," he said. "She wants to control every decision you make, whether you get vaccinated or not, whether you wear a mask or not, and I do not. I trust the people over the government. She trusts the government more than the people, and that really sums up what this race is all about."

After the breakfast ended, The Augusta Chronicle asked local supporters about their thoughts on Kemp.

"The state's definitely headed in the right direction and we don't need someone like Stacey Abrams," George Bratcher said.

Jim Gillam said Kemp has displayed strong leadership.

"True, strong, conservative leadership," Gillam said. "Even when both sides were kind of coming at him, you could see that strong leadership. He did what he thought was right for the citizens of Georgia, and as a military vet and retiree, you can't ask for anything more in a governor: to tell you what he means, he means what he says, and he does what he says."

Kemp has two more stops on his tour ahead of the election, including a lunch at the Outback Steakhouse in Ringgold on Sunday and a rally with other statewide candidates Monday afternoon at the Cobb County International Airport in Kennesaw.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Brian Kemp talks accomplishments, Stacey Abrams issues at Evans rally