In Georgia, the Republican gubernatorial primary isn’t just another local race ramping up for the 2022 midterms. No, this race has plenty of nuance to it, not the least of which involves members of the Trump White House.
Donald Trump, the former President and likely 2024 GOP candidate for President again, has endorsed David Perdue in the race thanks in no small part to Perdue’s willingness to speak out about the alleged issues of the 2020 election. On the other side of the primary is incumbent GA Governor Brian Kemp, who flatly refused requests by Donald Trump to investigate the 2020 election, and who is endorsed in this race by none other than Mike Pence.
And Trump’s former VP certainly appeared to signal that he and The Don were not exactly seeing eye to eye these days.
On the eve of Georgia’s primary election, former Vice President Mike Pence had a forward-looking message of support for renominating Republican Gov. Brian Kemp.
“When you say yes to Governor Brian Kemp tomorrow, you will send a deafening message all across America that the Republican Party is the party of the future,” said Pence, speaking to a crowd of a few hundred in an airport hangar north of Atlanta on Monday.
Pence’s appearance was an implicit rebuke of former running mate Donald Trump, who has endorsed Kemp’s primary opponent, David Perdue. Pence did not make a direct mention of the former President nor respond to the relentless attacks Trump has leveled against Kemp. But his appearance at the rally the day before the election spoke volumes.
And also:
“When Brian Kemp called me and asked me to come out here and be with all of you, I said yes in a heartbeat,” Pence said.
Pence has not ruled out the potential for a 2024 bid either, leading many to wonder just how ugly the coming campaign could get.
