ATLANTA — Democratic gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms and Republican nominee Rick Jackson faced off in a debate Tuesday night, with much of the discussion focused on Jackson’s relationship with President Donald Trump.
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Bottoms attacked Jackson over his past support for Trump, saying her opponent had previously said he wanted to be Trump’s “favorite governor.”
“My opponent has said he wants to be Trump’s favorite governor. He wants to be Trump with a Southern tone,” Bottoms said.
Jackson appeared to distance himself from Trump during the debate, instead drawing comparisons between himself and Republican Gov. Brian Kemp.
“My number one priority is Georgians. It’s you, and I will stand up to anybody just like Brian Kemp has done. He works with both parties, both presidents and he stands up when he disagrees,” Jackson said.
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After the debate, Bottoms continued her criticism of Jackson, calling him a “chameleon” and accusing him of trying to distance himself from Trump.
“Today, it’s he wants to be like Kemp and not like Trump,” Bottoms said.
She also claimed Jackson had scrubbed his campaign website of references to Trump after spending the primary saying he wanted to be Trump.
Jackson did not speak with reporters after the debate. Senior campaign officials instead defended the Republican nominee.
Austin Chambers, a senior adviser to the Jackson campaign, said Bottoms should focus on Jackson rather than Trump.
“Doesn’t get to run against Donald Trump. She’s running against Rick Jackson,” Chambers said.
The debate marked the first and only time the two candidates are scheduled to face each other in a debate, according to the information provided.
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