Trump Suddenly Hedges On Georgia Governor Pick As His Endorsement Powers Weaken

Topline

Former President Donald Trump acknowledged Tuesday former Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) will have a difficult time defeating incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp (R), as his endorsed candidate struggles to make headway on Kemp’s lead in the polls despite the ex-president launching repeated attacks on the governor, who he blames for not supporting his relentless false election claims.

Then President Donald Trump and then Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) appear to listen as Sen. Tom Cotton … [+] (R-Ark.) makes an announcement in the White House on August 2, 2017, in Washington.

Zach Gibson-Pool/Getty Images

Key Facts

Trump said on the conservative radio program The John Fredericks Show Tuesday morning that Kemp has proven to be “very hard to beat,” which he called “a shame.”

The comments came less than two weeks after Trump held a rally for Perdue, where he first showed signs of hedging on the candidate, saying: “I hope, David, you’re going to be the governor, or I just wasted a hell of a lot of time tonight.”

Kemp holds a 9% lead over Perdue, according to the latest RealClearPolitics polling average, and there’s been no sign Trump’s been able to put a dent in that support.

Trump essentially used Kemp as a verbal punching bag after losing the 2020 election to President Joe Biden, repeatedly attacking the governor for not overturning Biden’s legitimate victory in Georgia.

Unseating Kemp in the midterms appeared to be a top priority for Trump, who worked to clear the Republican field of anti-Kemp candidates who might have pulled votes from Perdue, like former state Rep. Vernon Jones (R).

Crucial Quote

“We will see what happens,” Trump said. “But it’s a shame. It’s a shame. Not easy to beat a sitting governor. Just remember that.”

What To Watch For

The GOP primary is May 24, and the winner will take on presumptive Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams in the November general election. Perdue has vowed to back Kemp if the governor wins the Republican nomination.

Key Background

Trump was known for being a kingmaker when he was president, with his endorsements often being enough to propel little-known candidates into comfortable victories. But that influence appears to be waning. Trump last month withdrew his support for Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) in Alabama’s open Senate contest, after polls showed Brooks trailing several other candidates. Trump-backed candidates in gubernatorial races in Idaho and Kansas are also struggling, along with his endorsed candidate in the North Carolina Senate race. In Texas, Trump-endorsed incumbent Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) is locked in a GOP runoff against George P. Bush (R), the Texas land commissioner, after Paxton polled at under 43% in the first round of voting.

Tangent

Trump supporters aimed “Lock him up!” chants at Kemp during last month’s Georgia rally after Perdue falsely accused Kemp of enabling voter fraud and suggested he’d jail “those people responsible for that fraud.” Perdue smiled and gave a thumbs-up to the crowd as the chants rang out, but later claimed he “misunderstood” the situation.