Former President Donald Trump renewed his feud with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp at a rally in Atlanta on August 3rd. Trump attacked Kemp and his wife, Georgia First Lady Marty Kemp, saying, “I don’t want her endorsement.
With Governor Kemp’s ground game and President Trump’s vision, we will win Georgia.
The best days are ahead! pic.twitter.com/78wMhzY3sF
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) August 9, 2024
I don’t want his endorsement. I just want them to do their job for Georgia. In my opinion, they want us to lose.”
In the face of new Democratic momentum, Trump has grown increasingly upset about Vice President Harris' surging poll numbers and media coverage — complaining relentlessly and asking friends about how his campaign is performing.
Allies have taken to finger-pointing over several…
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) August 9, 2024
Gov.
Trump is struggling tonight in Montana. Watch his audience during this rant. pic.twitter.com/XA7hicicsK
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 10, 2024
Kemp has worked to move beyond the divisive 2020 election and focus on current political challenges. His recent reelection bid saw him secure a nearly 8-point victory over former Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, emphasizing a playbook that did not require moderating his conservative stances.
Trump reignites tensions with Kemp
Influential Republicans and Trump allies have urged the former president to stay on message. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina suggested focusing on winning the crucial state in the upcoming 2024 election, stating, “If we lose Georgia, it could be a very long night. So let’s win this election.”
Radio host Erick Erickson noted that many of his listeners were upset with Trump for targeting Marty Kemp.
Erickson emphasized the importance of Georgia’s 16 electoral votes, which remain in contention. Trump’s ability to win the 2024 election without Georgia is still possible, but reclaiming the state would expand the Republican map significantly. Kemp’s organizational support is crucial for any Republican candidate, as his ground game proved effective in his previous gubernatorial victories.
Tensions remain palpable, with Trump claiming credit for Kemp’s 2018 election victory and Kemp comparing Trump to a tropical storm causing distractions amid political campaigns. The ongoing feud between Trump and Kemp highlights the broader challenges within the Republican Party as it navigates internal conflicts while aiming to maintain its electoral foothold in crucial states like Georgia.
