Black v. Walker Primary Feud Festers as Republican Frustrations Grow in #GASEN

Georgia Republicans continue to express frustrations with Herschel Walker’s “heavy on Fox News spots and curated closed-door campaign,” while Gary Black takes aim at Walker’s past comments on immigration and his absentee approach to the campaign trail. Here’s the latest from the GOP #GASEN primary:

• Black going after Walker on immigration. Gary Black’s campaign is ramping up criticism of Herschel Walker’s position on immigration, calling Walker’s past stance on the issue a “disaster for America,” and paying to amplify criticism of Walker’s position on airwaves across the state. As seen and heard on Savannah’s WJCL 22: “A U.S. Senate candidate from Georgia is firing shots at his opponent. Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black shared an ad…targeting Herschel Walker. It said, in part, ‘Walker…supports amnesty and citizenship for illegals.’”

• Walker brushing off Black’s experience. Even though Herschel Walker’s two months in the race have been characterized as “a whole lot of nothing,” the Trump-tapped candidate has made a point of criticizing the three-term Agriculture Commissioner’s qualifications. When asked in a recent interview what has personally prepared him to run for Senate, Walker quipped “What gives a person in agriculture experience to run?” And in his speech at the Trump rally last month, Walker once again took aim at Black: “What qualifies a farmer to run for [Senate]?”

• Georgia GOP divided. Black’s campaign is “attracting support from a significant number of Republicans…despite former President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Herschel Walker.” Conservative radio host and 2020 Senate candidate Doug Collins, one of Trump’s biggest supporters, joined former Governor Nathan Deal in endorsing Gary Black, saying, “I don’t care who else is running – I’m supporting Gary Black.”  Meanwhile, Representatives Buddy Carter and Marjorie Taylor Greene have doubled down on their support for Walker.

• “You can’t hide forever.” Georgia Republicans are “worried” and “terrified” about Walker’s “behind closed doors” campaign as he’s “often seen and seldom heard.” Meanwhile, GOP strategists fear that Walker is “not ready to answer difficult questions,” “unprepared to speak about the issues,” and “too closely aligned with his friend, former President Trump.” Herschel’s “bunker strategy is the brainchild” of out-of-state Republicans, concerning local conservative operatives, activists, and voters.

• Conservative commentator Todd Starnes compared Herschel Walker to failed Senate candidate Kelly Loeffler, noting that it “bothers me” he is “not out there” campaigning and was “not out there talking about the issues like Gary [Black] is.”

• “How long can Herschel continue to operate without doing many public events or answering questions?” said Eric Tanenblatt, a veteran Georgia GOP strategist.

• “You can’t hide forever,” said another Georgia Republican strategist.

• “Everybody I talk to in the Republican universe who isn’t being paid by [Walker] is terrified,” said yet another GOP strategist in Georgia, who requested anonymity to speak candidly about private conversations.

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