“All-Out Republican Feud” Ramps Up as Georgia GOP Prepares for “Ugly Face-Off in 2020”

Collins and Loeffler kick off an expensive and bitter fight as Republicans now admit Georgia is in play

ATLANTA — Coverage of Georgia’s “brutal Republican-on-Republican fight” continues as “political mega-donor” Kelly Loeffler and ultraconservative Congressman Doug Collins gear up for a multimillion-dollar slugfest as part of “a Republican Party rift that is poised to put Georgia in play for Democrats.” Now, out-of-state Republican groups are planning a $3 million ad biltz of the state while Loeffler gets ready to empty $20 million of her fortune into the race to prop up her flailing candidacy — all while each candidate is forced to ignore critical independent voters to appeal to a narrow right-wing base.

With Washington Republicans trying desperately to defend a vulnerable Loeffler by slamming Collins’ campaign as “selfish” and “shortsighted” while the state GOP splits between the two candidates, it’s becoming clear that Georgia is more in play than ever this November.

From the AJC front page this morning:

See what they’re saying about Republicans’ Senate brawl:

• AJC: “The race for Loeffler’s U.S. Senate seat is set to be an all-out Republican feud”

• WABE: “Collins has formally announced he’s running…setting up a Republican battle”

• AJC: ‘Doubts and questions.’ Collins’ Senate bid opens fissure in Georgia GOP

• Vox: Republicans could be in for an ugly face-off in the 2020 Georgia Senate race

• POLITICO: Conservative group will launch ad broadside against Collins in Georgia

• Washington Examiner: Doug Collins Senate bid threatens to hand Georgia to the Democrats

• Yahoo News: Collins launched a Senate bid and the Republican Party was not thrilled

• The Hill: Senate GOP campaign arm rips Collins as selfish for entering Georgia race

• CNN: “[Collins’] decision would set up a fierce melee for the November 2020 race”

• NY Post: Collins ripped by Republicans over primary challenge against senator

• The Hill: Doug Collins fires back at head of Senate GOP’s campaign arm: ‘Fake news’

• POLITICO: “Collins announced Wednesday he is running…setting up an intraparty battle…in the emerging battleground state.”

• Axios: Rep. Doug Collins confirms Georgia Senate run, triggering GOP battle

• WaPo: “Rep. Douglas A. Collins…sparked an intraparty Republican brawl”

• The Week: Collins calls statement from his own party ‘fake news’

• NY Mag: Trump Pit Bull Doug Collins Jumps Into the Georgia Senate Race, Dividing the GOP

• NBC: Doug Collins enters Georgia Senate race, setting off Republican battle

• The Hill: “Collins’s decision could give Democrats a better chance of flipping the seat, as…he and Loeffler will likely spend millions of dollars targeting each other.”

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