Politics
Politics

David Perdue resurfaces at Trump rally after humiliating defeat

By
March 9, 2024

ROME — Former U.S. Sen. David Perdue wanted to clear the air when he took the stage Saturday at Donald Trump’s Georgia rally.

“I am not running for any elected office,” Perdue said to laughter. His only mission, he said, “for the rest of this year until November, is making damn sure that Donald J. Trump is the next president.”

Perdue was Trump’s handpicked candidate to challenge Gov. Brian Kemp in the Republican primary in 2022. He was humiliated, losing to the incumbent by 52 percentage points.

Since then, he’s hardly had any public appearances. But a few weeks ago, Perdue formally endorsed Trump stoking speculation that he’s angling for a Cabinet spot. Others say he still could be a formidable surrogate in deep-red parts of the state.

Republican gubernatorial candidate David Perdue speaks to supporters at an election-night event on May 24, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia. The former U.S. senator, who was supported by former President Donald Trump, lost to incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp in today's Republican primary. (Megan Varner/Getty Images/TNS)

Credit: TNS

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Credit: TNS

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Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution's chief political reporter.

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