It’s becoming a familiar attack on the campaign trail in Georgia’s race for governor: Democrat Jason Carter criticizes a policy under Gov. Nathan Deal, who points to a previous vote that binds them together.

As November nears, the Atlanta state senator is facing increasing criticism from Deal and his allies for past votes in favor of state funding blueprints, economic policy and executive branch appointees that Carter is now slamming.

Carter’s campaign said his votes show a willingness to cross party lines and work with Republicans to shape legislation. The candidate has also cast the attack as a distraction to divert attention from his vision to significantly boost education funding and increase transparency in Georgia government.

The governor, locked in a tight race with Carter in the final weeks of the campaign, said it’s a sign that the Democrat isn’t ready for the state’s highest office. Carter, he said at a recent campaign stop, is guided by “purely political motivations” on pressing issues.

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Blue heron are just one of the hundreds of kinds of animals and plants that call the Okefenokee Swamp home. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

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