Staff writers from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution are traveling with the top candidates in the governor’s race and the U.S. Senate campaign through Tuesday’s general election. Here are Friday’s highlights from the campaign trail:
David Perdue
Republican Senate candidate
Where was he? Valdosta, Tifton and Perry
Themes: Winning a Republican majority in the Senate to sideline Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee campaigned with Perdue.
What he said: "How many of you came down here for the debate (in Perry on Oct. 23)? God bless you. We kicked their butt, didn't we? They thought they could bring people down from Detroit and come to Perry, Ga., and show us how to do it, but I think we showed them a thing or two about hometown Houston County."
What a voter said: "Actually, I voted for Jack Kingston first. Since he lost, I am going with David Perdue. I had already decided to vote for him because we needed a Republican." — Laurie Jones of Perry
Atmosphere: Hundreds of supporters showed up at each stop in rural Georgia, with turnout perhaps being helped by the presence of Huckabee, a Fox News host known for his take on social issues.
Follow on Twitter: @nick4iezos
— Nicholas Fouriezos
Michelle Nunn
Democratic Senate candidate
Where was she? Atlanta
Themes: Letting Bill Clinton do his thing. The former president rallied voters for Nunn and Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Jason Carter.
What she said: "I take that spirit of service and I want to apply it to issues that matter to people. That's what's at stake in this election."
Atmosphere: Ecstatic. The rally with Clinton at Paschal's Restaurant was packed, and Clinton remains an expert at whipping a crowd into a frenzy.
Follow on Twitter: @asheinin
— Aaron Gould Sheinin
Nathan Deal
Republican gubernatorial candidate
Where was he? McDonough, Fayetteville, Newnan, Carrollton, Douglasville
Themes: Touting his criminal justice overhaul, which aims to keep low-level offenders out of prison.
What he said: Discussing Jason Carter's no vote on this year's budget: "That says that Jason Carter doesn't represent mainstream Democrats. He's on the extreme left side."
What a voter said: "I support about 90 percent of (Deal's) policies. And I was impressed when Zell Miller supported the governor." — Frank Jones, a retiree from Newnan
Atmosphere: The governor was met by a crowd of at least 100 at his early-morning stop in McDonough, where about a dozen black preachers gave him a hearty endorsement. About 100 supporters met him for rallies later in the day.
Follow on Twitter: @bluestein
— Greg Bluestein
Jason Carter
Democratic gubernatorial candidate
Where was he? Morrow, Atlanta
Themes: Reinforcing his main campaign themes about education, the economy and strong ethics and collecting an endorsement from former President Bill Clinton
What he said: "We have got every opportunity to be successful, and the current leadership has taken us to the bottom. Georgia has no business at the bottom."
Atmosphere: Carter met former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin for coffee. Then he spoke to a political science class at Clayton State University, where he took a selfie photo with the students. Later, he appeared at a crowded, energetic rally at Paschal's Restaurant in Atlanta with Clinton, U.S. Senate candidate Michelle Nunn and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.
Follow on Twitter: @JeremyLRedmon
— Jeremy Redmon
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