Warnock, Walker debate

Sen. Raphael Warnock and challenger Herschel Walker met for their first and only debate in a Georgia Senate race that has rapidly become about personal ...

“I went through a divorce, like a lot of people,” Warnock said when asked about the claims, calling it a “painful period” and adding he remains close to his two children. The polling also showed Libertarian Chase Oliver is drawing more Republican voters from Walker than Democratic voters from Warnock, putting pressure on Walker to make his case Friday to disaffected Republicans. Republicans unsuccessfully sought to use the allegations to defeat Warnock in 2020. He now trails Warnock by more than 3 points, but most surveys show the race within the margin of error. Warnock defended his votes on a sweeping climate and health care bill and gun violence prevention legislation during his two years in the Senate. Warnock called for expanding Medicaid to cover Georgians who are uninsured due to the state's decision not to accept extra funding under the Affordable Care Act. of Martin Luther King Jr.’s church and John Lewis’s church, you know that’s a desperate candidate.” “Here’s how you know I’m running against a desperate candidate," Warnock replied. “President Biden won and Senator Warnock won. "On abortion, I'm a Christian. Walker appeared flat-footed when asked if he favors Medicaid expansion, saying that "people have coverage for health care" and that he wants Georgians to "get off the government health care and get on the health care he’s got," gesturing toward Warnock. Walker later turned the table on the reverend by referring to one of the Ten Commandments while accusing Warnock of lying.

The two answered a range of questions about abortion, inflation, Vladimir Putin and student debt relief.

After largely sticking to attack ads focused on tying Sen. Walker rejects it:" "I didn't co-sign for anyone's loan and it's not right. (He was an honorary deputy at the Cobb County Police Department, as "I trust women more than I trust politicians," he said. Why it matters: Early voting in Georgia starts on Monday. But they also faced questions about various controversies in their

One of the closest and most contentious Senate races in the country could have its defining moment Friday night, as Democratic Sen.

The candidates also clashed on abortion rights more generally, with Walker insisting he did not support a federal ban, in contrast to past statements, and pointing to the state’s restrictive “heartbeat” law. Georgia is a state that respects life,” Walker said. “It costs us more not to expand. And instead of aborting those babies, why aren’t you baptizing those babies?,” Walker said. “Unless you have eating right, insulin is doing you no good. “I told the President that was the exact wrong thing to do at the exact wrong time. But I am not going to back down.” His effort, in the closing moments, to assuage fence-sitting voters about his readiness to serve also included a jab at Warnock and Biden. “I put it in a book, one thing about my life, I have been very transparent. Warnock did little to distance himself from Biden, even at times touting the legislation he passed with the President’s help. Later, when pressed on voter fraud in the 2020 election, he added, “Did President Biden win? “And just because he says something doesn’t mean it’s true.”

The Georgia Senate candidate's decision to tone down his position shows the high stakes of the race, one of Republicans' best opportunities to flip a ...

The candidates shook hands at the end of the debate, with Walker subsequently tapping Warnock on the arm and appearing to want to chat further. “This race isn’t about me,” Walker said, seeking to deflect from a focus about his personal struggles and family problems. The moderators also questioned Walker about his current mental health status, and whether he was continuing to receive treatment. The campaign had previously shared a photo of the badge to prove Walker had been given the honorary title — which did not confer law enforcement status — after Walker claimed he had served in law enforcement. “Did he not mention there’s a baby in that room as well?” Walker asked. While decrying the candidate as a liar, Christian Walker said his father had tried to kill both him and his mother — a remark Democrats seized on in an ad this week highlighting other alleged instances of violence by Walker. “There are only two people who are going to sit in this seat, either me or my opponent,” Warnock said. Warnock in recent weeks has held a slight lead over Walker in a race that’s within the margin of error, a trend that has continued in new polling conducted since the latest scandal broke. The Daily Beast reported last week that Walker had encouraged a former girlfriend to have an abortion, and then reimbursed her for the procedure. While Walker has faced the brunt of the questions surrounding abortion, Warnock, who supports abortion rights, was also grilled Friday on the issue. Walker isn’t the first Republican Senate nominee in recent months to try to backpedal past comments about total opposition to abortion, a proposal overwhelmingly unpopular with voters. Raphael Warnock, Walker maintained he is still “pro-life” and criticized the incumbent for supporting abortion rights.

One of the closest and most contentious Senate races in the country could have its defining moment Friday night, as Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and ...

National Republicans, though, have doubled down on Walker’s campaign in recent days, which could be decisive in their efforts to win a Senate majority in a body that is currently split 50-50 between the parties with Democrats in control because of Vice President Kamala Harris’ tie-breaking vote. But his campaign has been rattled by the story, which has now dominated the headlines for more than a week – and could complicate his path to victory if it lands poorly with the conservative-leaning suburban voters so crucial to any Georgia Republican’s political fate. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, this week in a show of support for Walker.

Live updating coverage of the Georgia Senate debate between Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker. The Friday primetime debate in Savananh is the first — and ...