With just a few more days before Tuesday's primary, political candidates swept across the state on Saturday to attend debates, campaign rallies and get-out-the-vote drives. Here's a few scenes we grabbed from the trail:
Michelle Nunn joined about 300 volunteers at a southwest Atlanta elementary school working to clean up the grounds, repaint lines on the basketball court and spruce up the landscaping. The event was held even as her three Democratic opponents were across town at WSB's studios at a final debate, which she declined to attend.
The Democratic front-runner for an open Senate seat said she was spending her final hours ahead of Tuesday's vote reminding folks of the state motto - wisdom, justice and moderation. "I think those are the values that people are looking for, and that I represent them."
The nonprofit executive also chimed in on the fate of Michael Boggs, President Barack Obama's controversial judicial nominee, who has come under scrutiny for his support for anti-abortion measures, his vote opposing the removal of the Confederate battle emblem from the state flag and his support for an amendment banning same-sex marriage while a state legislator in the early 2000s. Nunn was noncommittal on whether she'd vote to support him, but said she shares many of the concerns expressed by his critics.
Said Nunn:
"Ultimately what we need is someone in Washington who is going to really prioritize inclusivity and diversity in our judicial nominees and we start with that hope and aspiration. That's what I would be working to do. As it relates to the Boggs nomination, I share the concerns that have been articulated by people. I'm not there right now so I won't have the chance to sit down and have the conversations necessary to make the final decision. But I share those concerns."
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Over at WSB's Midtown campus, Nunn's three rivals took turns blasting her for skipping the debate and questioned whether she was a reliable Democratic vote. Former state Sen. Steen Miles, Atlanta psychiatrist Branko Radulovacki and junior ROTC instructor Todd Robinson each urged voters not to count them out yet.
Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2014/05/17/3102563/ga-senate-candidates-to-meet-for.html#storylink=cpy
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On the banks of Lake Lanier, hundreds of Gov. Nathan Deal supporters gathered for what has become a GOP staple: Grilling with the governor. It's Deal's main pre-primary rally, and scores of other political candidates joined the event.
One of the more surprising participants was Republican Senate candidate Karen Handel, who was narrowly defeated by Deal in a bitter 2010 gubernatorial runoff. She arrived just as the rally began, and worked the crowd near rival Rep. Paul Broun. Rep. Jack Kingston also showed up with his Roadmaster. The three are scrapping for votes in hopes of landing in a likely July 22 runoff.
Deal's message was fairly simple: We've done great things in the first term. Head to the polls on Tuesday to help us do more.
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Back in Atlanta, Superintendent John Barge and former Dalton Mayor David Pennington met at a WSB gubernatorial debate that will air on Sunday. Deal was a no-show - he told us he was skipping the debates because he believes his record speaks for itself.
At the debate, Barge reinforced his opposition to a part of the expansion of gun rights that Deal recently signed into a law. Citing his father's alcoholism, he said he was against the part of the law that allows permitted gun owners to bring their weapons into bars.
The superintendent also talked about finding a "partnership" with federal officials on a plan to expand the Medicaid system for low-income residents. Deal has refused the expansion, saying it would be too costly in the long run. Pennington said the idea was a non-starter and would do little to improve the state's economy.
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