Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle of Georgia, a Republican who spent most of the past 12 years building up political chits under two different GOP governors, expected to become governor himself this year.
But last week President Trump endorsed Cagle’s opponent, Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp, in Tuesday’s runoff for the Republican gubernatorial nomination – and Kemp won in a landslide.
With 99.9 percent of precincts reporting, Kemp became the state's Republican gubernatorial nominee with 69.5 percent of the vote – while Cagle captured only 30.5 percent.
Vice President Mike Pence campaigned in Georgia over the weekend for Kemp. And now – despite the prognostications of some pundits – Kemp is the odds-on favorite to win election as Georgia’s next governor in November. He will face Democrat Stacey Abrams, who hopes to become the first female African-American governor in the nation.
Trump tweeted on Kemp’s behalf, including one saying: “Brian Kemp, who is running for Governor of Georgia and has my full endorsement, is campaigning tonight with VP @mike_pence. Brian is very strong on Crime and Borders. LOVES our Military. Vets and the 2nd Amendment. He will be a GREAT Governor!”
That and similar presidential tweets no doubt were persuasive.
Trump’s endorsement alone may not be enough to carry any candidate to victory. In the races where it has appeared to make a difference, it has come as late as Election Day.
But with the president enjoying overwhelming favorability among Republican voters -- 88 percent job approval[1], according to a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll released this week -- it’s clear that, in the primary at least, it is better to have him on your side than against you.
