ATLANTA — Former President Barack Obama spoke before a packed arena Friday night as he rallied voters to go out and vote for Stacey Abrams for Georgia’s next governor.
Obama was just the latest of political heavy-hitter to come to the Peach State as the race heats up between Abrams, the Democratic nominee, and Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp, the Republican. Oprah Winfrey held a rally for Abrams on Thursday.
“Republicans, they keep trying to diminish Stacey’s remarkable achievements. She’s the most experienced, most qualified candidate in this race,” Obama told the audience at Morehouse College.
Abrams implored her base to get out and vote and said she believes she can unify all of Georgia, if given the chance.
“Because, regardless of where we live, we share a common belief that Georgia can do more and be more for all of us,” Abrams said.
On Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence came to Georgia to stump for Kemp.
“Georgia and America need Brian Kemp to be the next governor of the great state of Georgia,” Pence told the audience at a rally in Dalton.
Kemp told the supporters that he needed their vote now or on Election Day. New polls show he's still neck-and-neck with Abrams.
"This is the fourth quarter. This is the fourth quarter. I need you to show up like the Dawgs did in Jacksonville last weekend,” Kemp said.
President Donald Trump will come to Georgia on Sunday to speak a rally for Kemp in Macon, as both camps will work throughout the weekend to get out the vote ahead of Tuesday's election.
We'll carry Trump's visit LIVE on WSBTV.com and the WSB-TV Facebook page, as well.
BACKGROUND
The latest Channel 2 Action News & The Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll shows a statistical dead heat between Kemp and Abrams, with a low percentage of undecided voters remaining.
There's a possibility of a December runoff, given that Libertarian Ted Metz also is on the ballot.
Georgia requires that the winner garner a majority of the votes. There has never been a runoff to determine Georgia’s governor.
All of this could mean that events that energize core supporters, such as a rally with Trump or Obama, carry more weight less than 48 hours before Election Day.
Both candidates have run consistent appeals to their respective bases.
Kemp has embraced Trump and echoed the president's hard-line policies on immigration, and he's focused much of his campaigning in the state's more conservative pockets beyond metro Atlanta.
Abrams has touted her experience working with Republicans as minority leader in the Georgia legislature, her positions on health care, education spending, criminal justice and gun regulations make her an unapologetic liberal.