Jesse Scheckner
Fresh off a statewide bus tour supporting his re-election bid in Georgia, Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock is hitting South Florida next week for help in tackling Republican former NFL running back Hershel Walker in the General Election.
Warnock’s Sunshine State sojourn includes two stops. The first, on Sept. 8, will take place at 6:30 p.m. in Miami. The second is at noon on Sept. 9 in Fort Lauderdale.
The announced trips to South Florida come days after a new survey showed Walker with a two-point lead over Warnock.
The poll by Emerson College, conducted Aug. 28-29, also found Walker had a 50% favorability rating compared to 47% for Warnock.
That metric changed markedly when taken to the extreme, however. Of those surveyed, 41% said they held a “very favorable” opinion of Warnock, a pastor in private life who became Georgia’s first Black Democratic U.S. Senator after winning a special election in 2020.
Warnock’s victory, alongside another in the state by Jon Ossoff, delivered control of the U.S. Senate to Democrats for the first time since 2014. According to FiveThrityEight, the race is one of seven contests that could decide whether Democrats retain control of the Senate.
Just 27% of respondents to the poll said they held a “very favorable” opinion of Walker, a University of Georgia football icon, Heisman Trophy winner, 12-season NFL player, former mixed martial arts fighter and one-time contestant on The Celebrity Apprentice, a reality show hosted by his political mentor, Donald Trump.
Part of that may have to do with Walker’s past. As his Senate campaign gained momentum, troublesome information resurfaced. In 2005, his ex-wife, Cindy Grossman, obtained a protective order against him on claims he threatened to murder her.
Walker has attributed that incident and others to his struggle with dissociative identity disorder, a condition formerly called multiple personality disorder with which he was diagnosed in 2001 and about which he has since been very open.
Warnock’s proactive approach to fundraising has worked well so far. As of July, he held more than $22 million after raising $17.2 million in the second quarter of 2022. Walker, meanwhile, had $7 million in cash after a $6.2 million Q2 haul.
Through June 30, Warnock spent more than $85 million. Walker had raised just $20.2 million since filing to run and spent $13.4 million.
The two have yet to debate or concur on conditions. Warnock agreed in June to three debates in Atlanta, Savannah and Macon. Walker said he’d only attend a different debate on Oct. 14 in Savannah.
Lawyers Jennifer Stearns Buttrick, Allison Miller and Eugene Stearns of international firm Stearns Weaver Miller will host Warnock’s Miami stop. In Fort Lauderdale, attorneys Sharon Kegerreis and Mitchell Berger of business law firm Berger Singerman LLP will play host.
10 comments
PeterH
September 1, 2022 at 12:50 pm
A Republican celebrity liar and uneducated Walker has absolutely no place in the US Senate. He’s a Sarah Palin wearing an empty suit. Hopefully Georgia voters will stick with thoughtful and competent Warnock for Senate.
Send Warnock a campaign contribution.
Hope
September 1, 2022 at 1:35 pm
It’s Herschel Walker for the win!
Democrats are done with the failed Brandon Administration, the lies, the treason, the misuse of our Federal law enforcement agencies, Afghanistan, inflation, high gas prices, supply chain interruptions, fentanyl overdoses due to not controlling the borders, losses in our 401ks, buying votes with the student loan forgiveness (which is unconstitutional), and it goes on and on and on.
Warnock simply cannot sustain a platform based on being The Waterboy for the Brandon Administration failures.
Welcome to the US Senate, Herschel!
Loki Luck III
September 1, 2022 at 1:53 pm
Senator Warnock campaigning in Florida? This “Paper Christian” needs to focus on the Peach State only.
Hope
September 1, 2022 at 2:29 pm
Warnock must think Floridians can vote in Georgia, so there is a level of intelligence issue or Desperation!
Loki Luck III
September 2, 2022 at 1:07 am
Right? 😎
PeterH
September 1, 2022 at 2:36 pm
Warnock’s donations come from patriotic Americans like me …. I live in South Florida and my donations across the USA including Georgia have an impact on maintaining our Democracy.
Hope
September 1, 2022 at 3:22 pm
@ PeterH,
Well not a bright move on your part. Warnock is spending his campaign contributions to pay attorney fees for lawsuits filed against him.
No wonder he has to come to Florida to look for contributions as attorney fees are draining his war chest so gullible people like you take the bait.
Again, not very bright, PeterH.
PeterH
September 1, 2022 at 4:49 pm
Well “Hope” you’re whining about an ‘alleged” minor court case that was resolved in April of 2021. Installing an ignorant incompetent liar like Walker should never have happened in our Democracy. Walker will be easily manipulated by Trump and the most despicable garbage elements in today’s Republican Party. Walker is too stupid to understand the complexities of government.
It’s not just Walker. ….JD Vance. Oz, Johnson, Masters, Gaetz, Rubio and DeSantis must not win present and future elections.
Until the GQP rejects Trumpism and all its policies….. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY MUST BE DESTROYED BEFORE IT CAN BE REBUILT FROM THE GROUND UP.
We need candidates with honor and not wingnuts cultural warriors.
martin
September 1, 2022 at 2:01 pm
RUN HERSCHEL RUN: remove these socialist democrats from office.
Impeach Biden
September 1, 2022 at 9:40 pm
Warnock heard that Andrew Gillum is having a party on Miami Beach. He heard there will be hookers and blow there.
Comments are closed.