#GASEN: Walker Continues to Dodge Questions on “Most Key Issues,” Candidates Attempt to Avoid McConnell-Trump Fight, and Gary Black Secures GA Endorsers

Trump’s handpicked candidate still refusing to say whether he’s vaccinated or not

Georgia’s GOP Senate primary is plunging further off the rails as Trump’s handpicked candidate Herschel Walker refuses to answer basic questions about his vaccination status and other key issues, the entire Republican field distances itself from the former president’s revenge tour against Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Gary Black picks up dozens of Georgia GOP endorsements despite Trump’s wishes. Here’s the latest:

• Herschel Walker has established “a pattern of staying mum on most key issues” — and won’t answer basic questions about his vaccination status, his support (or lack thereof) for Brian Kemp, his opinion on Republican leadership, or just about any issue of consequence to Georgians. As Walker told Lara Trump last week, he seems to be under the impression that his opinions “don’t matter” to Georgia voters — prompting a Gary Black spokesman to suggest that “there is a problem with Herschel that his team does not want us to know about.” 

• Every GOP Senate contender — including Trump’s handpicked candidate — is ignoring the former president’s pleas to oust Mitch McConnell from Republican leadership. Gary Black “doesn’t give a rat’s patootie who the Senate leader is,” Latham Saddler and Kelvin King gave vague non-answers, and Herschel Walker — surprise, surprise — “declined comment.” The AJC notes that “as far as Senate candidates go, [Trump]’s 0-for-four” on his McConnell revenge tour in Georgia.

• Despite Trump’s endorsement, Gary Black continues landing GOP endorsements in Georgia — including 55 legislative Republicans, dozens of sheriffs, and a handful of high-profile Georgia GOP figures. As Capitol Beat reports, Black’s campaign is “attracting support from a significant number of Republicans…despite former President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Herschel Walker.” That’s in addition to Black’s endorsements from former Gov. Nathan Deal and ex-U.S. Rep. Doug Collins, an ardent Trump supporter who has been very critical of Walker’s campaign.

“The next eight months of this divisive and chaotic GOP Senate primary are shaping up to be an absolute mess for Georgia Republicans,” said Dan Gottlieb, spokesman for the Democratic Party of Georgia.