Former Vice President Pence will headline a rally for Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp the day before the state’s May 24 primary, the campaign announced Friday. Kemp faces a challenge from former U.S. Sen. David Perdue, Donald Trump’s pick to win the GOP nomination.
Pence’s announcement on Friday appears to signal the former VP is further distancing himself from his former boss. He joins other Republicans like former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts in backing Kemp, whom Trump has criticized since the 2020 election. Pence’s former chief of staff, Marc Short, recently joined the Kemp campaign as a senior adviser.
The former vice president’s announcement comes also comes just days after a Trump-backed candidate in Nebraska lost his primary bid for governor. Ricketts’ choice, farmer and University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen, won Tuesday night against Trump’s pick, businessman Charles Herbster, the Associated Press reports.
Referring to Kemp as his friend and a man “dedicated to faith, family and the people of Georgia,” Pence says he is proud to offer his full support to Kemp.
“Brian Kemp is one of the most successful conservative governors in America,” Pence tweeted.
Kemp responded in a tweet that he is “incredibly honored” to have the former vice president’s support.
Marty, the girls, and I are incredibly honored to have the support of Vice President @Mike_Pence as we build on our campaign’s strong momentum through Election Day on May 24th! pic.twitter.com/6DeD23jKen
— Brian Kemp (@BrianKempGA) May 13, 2022
“The Vice President’s leadership was instrumental in creating the most prosperous economy in American history, including here in Georgia, and his commitment to building a safer, stronger America represents the highest ideals of our party.”
Trump has been actively campaigning for Perdue, and against Kemp, for months. At a rally in September, Trump called Kemp “a complete and total disaster.” He added that Democrat gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams might make a better governor than Kemp.
In April, Trump’s Save America PAC donated $500,000 to Get Georgia Right, a Virginia-based anti-Kemp super PAC.
Though Trump supported Kemp when he first ran for governor in 2018, his support dwindled after the 2020 presidential election when Trump lost Georgia and Kemp refused to overturn the results.
Polls show Kemp with a comfortable lead in the polls. He is expected
Kemp has a comfortable lead in the polls and is expected to win the primary later this month. But if Perdue could get in the way of Kemp gaining more than 50% of the vote, the race could turn to a runoff.
This article appears on Now Habersham in partnership with GPB News
