A battle between Cagle, Kemp allies leads to ‘sexual predators’ claim

State Sen. Renee Unterman, R-Buford, looks on as Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle speaks at a press conference earlier this year. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM

Credit: Jim Galloway

Credit: Jim Galloway

State Sen. Renee Unterman, R-Buford, looks on as Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle speaks at a press conference earlier this year. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM

As if you needed another sign the Georgia GOP runoff is getting heavy:

Shortly after Brian Kemp's campaign announced state Rep. David Clark would head his veterans coalition, a top surrogate for Casey Cagle took aim at him. With language equating his vote against her bill to support for "sexual predators." 
State Sen. Renee Unterman tweeted a picture of Clark's "no" vote for measures in 2015 that set up a fund to help victims of sexual predators through new criminal fines and an annual fee on strip clubs.
"Same guy who votes for sexual predators preying on young children being bought & sold for sex," Unterman tweeted of Clark. She added the hashtag "makesyouwonder." 
Opponents argued that singling out strip clubs for new fees would set a bad precedent and do little to crack down on sex trafficking, and argued that much of the problem occurs online. Roughly two dozen House lawmakers voted against the bill, including Clark, a military veteran.
In a response, Clark said Unterman and Cagle backers must be "really desperate if they'd steep to calling me and a dozen of the most conservative House members supporters of child predators."
"This bill had some serious constitutional flaws," he added. "Shame on you, Renee, for politicizing such an important issue."

This back-and-forth has not gone unnoticed by House lawmakers, several of whom have also responded to Unterman. Among them is state Rep. John Pezold, a fellow Republican who urged Unterman to “take your meds.”

Insider's note: This item was ripped and expanded from the Jolt.