ICYMI: Georgia Democrats Slam Trump’s Failed Leadership Ahead of Macon Rally

MACON — Yesterday, before Trump’s rally in Macon, Georgia Democrats, including Representative James Beverly, Representative Miriam Paris, and Commissioner-Elect Seth Clark, held a press conference and “Ridin’ With Biden” car parade to show how Trump’s failed leadership has hurt our health care, and why Georgians are standing with Joe Biden in this election.

Check out coverage from the event:

AJC: ‘Failed us.’ Democrats prepare sharp greeting for Trump in Macon. Georgia Democrats are preparing a thorny welcome for President Donald Trump’s visit to Macon on Friday. Hours before the Republican headlines a 7 p.m. rally at a Macon airport, Democrats will send a plane soaring above Macon with a message reading: “Trump Lied, 215,000 Died.” Two billboards along Interstate 75 that starkly declare “This Administration Failed Us” will greet motorists headed toward the rally. So will another that announces a “Superspreader event” at the airport.

WSB-TV: Ahead of Macon rally, Trump tells Channel 2 country won’t close again amid COVID-19 pandemic. A few hours later, a parade of cars rounded the corner of a downtown Macon street as Georgia Democrats rallied to support Vice President Joe Biden. Macon lawmaker James Beverly criticized the decision to have a big rally here during a pandemic. “After 210,000 lives lost and even his own diagnosis and hospitalization, Donald Trump still has not learned his lessons from COVID-19,” Beverly said. In our most recent poll, Trump has jumped back in the lead in Georgia, but the race for president is really too close to call and well within the poll’s margin of error.

Macon Telegraph: Here’s what Joe Biden had to say about President Donald Trump’s visit to Macon. Local leaders, such as State Rep. Miriam Paris and Macon-Bibb Commissioner-elect Seth Clark, will start the parade with a press conference before parading through Macon and making stops at the ballot drop box locations. Vehicles will start lining up at 11 a.m.

13WMAZ: Supporters of Democratic nominee host ‘Ridin’ with Biden’ event in downtown Macon. Supporters of Democratic nominee Joe Biden are holding their own event in downtown Macon on Friday. Biden for President Georgia and the Georgia Democratic Party of Georgia are hosting a “Ridin’ with Biden” car parade and a news conference on healthcare. This comes just hours before President Trump’s rally in Macon, set to be held at 7 p.m. at the Macon Regional Airport on Friday.

13WMAZ: GALLERY: Ridin’ with Biden supporters head through Macon on day of Trump visit. Georgia’s first Ridin’ With Biden Unity Parade went off in full swing with local and state officials. The event drew in several Joe Biden supporters. According to a news release, supporters drove through downtown Macon to” let the world know that Georgia rejects the rhetoric of hate and division.” Macon-Bibb Commissioner-Elect Seth Clark spoke at the event sharing that Macon is “not Trump country.”

AJC: Trump aims for rural voters with Friday’s stop in Middle Georgia
Georgia Democrats, meanwhile, sense an opportunity to gain inroads in an area often overlooked. While much of the party’s focus has centered on the competitive battleground across Atlanta’s bedroom communities, the fight to woo rural white voters may pay dividends. “Let’s say Democrats usually get 20% of the vote in places like where I grew up in Monroe County,” said Seth Clark, a Democratic commissioner-elect in Bibb County. “What happens if they get 22% in those places this time? Well, that’s the ballgame. If Biden improves marginally, he wins. That’s it.” He’s among local Democrats who promoted a digital billboard that displays: “Trump COVID Superspreader Event” near the airport where thousands of Georgians will soon congregate to greet Trump’s speech.“Trump’s not trying to just shore up rural Georgia. He’s trying to shore up rural America,” said Clark. “He’s bleeding, and if we make inroads in rural Georgia, it’s over.”

WGXA: Ridin’ With Biden event to be held in Macon
MACON, Ga. — State Representative Miriam Paris and Macon-Bibb Commissioner-elect Seth Clark are leading a “Ridin’ With Biden” unity parade on October 16. Community members are asked to decorate their vehicles and join the event. Cars and trucks will drive through downtown Macon to “let the world know that Georgians reject the rhetoric of hate and division.” Participants are asked to meet at 700 Poplar Street at 11 A.M. Biden/Harris 2020 masks will be available for those participating.

11Alive: Biden supporters hold parade in Macon on same day as Trump rally
Georgia Democrats put out the invitation for people to decorate their cars, trucks, motorcycles and drive through downtown before the President’s Macon rally tonight. (VIDEO)

WMGT: Joe Biden supporters hold “Ridin’ with Biden” parade in Macon
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – State Representative Miriam Paris and Macon-Bibb Commissioner-elect Seth Clark held a “Ridin’ With Biden” parade and news conference Friday.The event was held hours before President Donald Trump’s Rally was set to kick-off in Macon. They spoke out about the continued attacks on the Affordable Care Act, the COVID-19 crisis, and other issues.“Since our president has decided to make an appearance down in Macon we want to show him exactly what Georgia voters are thinking right now,” said Tamara Stevens, a Joe Biden supporter. As dozens of cars honked their horns through downtown Macon, they’ve encouraged residents to get out and vote for a change.“Trump loves his rallies, and he loves all the attention. We want to have a counter-message, that Georgia is a swing state, and we intend to turn it blue,” said Marla Cureton, a Joe Biden supporter.During the event, Macon-Bibb Commissioner-elect Seth Clark said it’s not safe to attend why President Trump’s rally.“The president violates Governor Kemp’s order and brings a charade to the airport, where a Georgia Tech professor says there’s a 98% chance of transmission of COVID,” Clark said.

WGXA: Joe Biden releases statement in response to President Trump’s visit to Macon
WASHINGTON (WGXA) – Former Vice President and current Presidential candidate Joe Biden released a statement Friday morning ahead of President Trump’s visit to Macon. Biden says, “President Trump has continued to host events that disregard public health guidance, including his own CDC, and is now taking his disregard for COVID-19 to Macon, Georgia, where numbers are spiking yet again. Due to President Trump’s failed leadership, 7,500 Georgians have lost their lives to the coronavirus and nearly 200,000 remain unemployed, all while he threatens to take away protections from 4.4 million Georgians with pre-existing conditions. As President, I will build our country back better and protect and expand the Affordable Care Act. I urge all Georgians to make your voices heard in this election.

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