Abrams and Kemp battle it out over abortion, guns and crime in a heated debate in Georgia

ATLANTA — Republican Gov. Brian Kemp and Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams clashed Monday night in a debate over issues from weapon and crime for abortion and election laws.

The debate comes at a crucial time for Abrams, as she looks to rebound after trailing in the polls all year. Kemp leads Abrams by 5 to 6 percentage points on average recent researchwith only three weeks until election day.

“I am on the right side of history and on the right side of the issue. But we also know that polls are just a snapshot. The question is: who are they painting?” Abrams said at the start of the debate when asked why polls showed Kemp more popular even though voters supported her views on abortion and Medicaid expansion. “I don’t believe I’m behind. I believe I represent Georgia.”

Kemp, who signed the six-week abortion ban, said at the start of the debate that he “will not” pursue further abortion restrictions or targeted contraception if re-elected. “It’s not my desire to do that,” he said.

Monday’s showdown, the first of two scheduled debates between Kemp and Abrams, took place the same day early voting opened in Georgia, a battleground state where they are involved in a rematch of their fierce 2018 race.They were joined on stage by Libertarian Party candidate Shane Hazel.

Abrams vowed to accept the results of the 2022 election, win or lose.

“I will always recognize the outcome of the election, but I will never deny access to any vote, because it is the responsibility of every American to defend the right to vote,” Abrams said. accusing Kemp of trying to limit Georgia suffrage.

Kemp has defended his actions regarding ballot access in Georgia. “Ms. Abrams is going to lie about my record because she doesn’t want to talk about hers,” he said.

Abrams emphasized her support for law enforcement when Kemp asked her how many sheriffs have endorsed her campaign, saying she doesn’t have the luxury of reducing her platform to a slogan. “We need security and justice,” she said.

Kemp chimed in: “The answer is zero.”

Abrams hit out at Kemp for restricting legal abortion and supporting gun laws, which she said have made Georgia less safe. “We have a governor who has weakened gun laws across the state, flooding our streets with guns while allowing dangerous people access to guns,” she said, calling for waiting periods and universal background checks, among other things.

The candidates were split on whether to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act of 2010, which would have expanded coverage to estimated 450,000 Georgians. Kemp rejected the Medicaid expansion, calling it a “broken government program,” while Abrams argued it was necessary to protect Georgians.

Kemp sought to link Abrams to President Joe Biden, whom he blamed for inflation. “Stacey Abrams campaigned to be Joe Biden’s running mate. She supports these policies,” he said.

Abrams outlined her aggressive plans to use Georgia’s budget surplus to increase teacher pay and increase funding for preschools. She also insisted that even a Republican-led legislature would not thwart her progressive ideas if elected.

“I don’t really believe there’s a solid Republican opposition,” she said, praising her work “with people to find out how to find solutions” from her time as House minority leader.

Finally, Kemp made his case for a second term, saying, “Georgia is the greatest state in the country to live, work and raise our children, and so I’m asking for your vote of support to keep it that way. “

Abrams concluded by criticizing: “Brian Kemp made a promise. He promised to keep us safe, but crime has risen. He promised to protect us, yet he attacked our freedoms. He promised to take care of our families, yet the growing prices are rising in Georgia because he refuses to expand Medicaid, because he refuses to address the affordable housing crisis.”