Trump stumps for Collins, Jackson in Perry rally
Trump stumps for Collins, Jackson in Perry rally
President Donald Trump addressed a packed crowd in Perry on Saturday evening during his second visit to Georgia in the last couple of weeks, making a last-minute push just 10 days before Election Day.
PERRY, Ga. - President Donald Trump addressed a packed crowd in Perry on Saturday evening during his second visit to Georgia in the last couple of weeks, making a last-minute push just 10 days before Election Day.
The president campaigned in support of Republican candidates Rick Jackson, who is running for governor, and U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, who is running for Senate.
What we know:
The evening event marked Trump's second visit to Georgia over the past several weeks as both parties mount aggressive get-out-the-vote efforts across the battleground state. Trump used the appearance to champion Collins' bid for the U.S. Senate and Jackson's campaign to succeed term-limited Gov. Brian Kemp.
During his address, Trump announced that German automaker Audi AG plans to construct a massive manufacturing facility in nearby Macon to produce up to 200,000 vehicles annually. Trump attributed the major industrial commitment to his administration's federal trade and tariff policies, arguing that international companies are expanding production in the United States to avoid import duties.
Dig deeper:
Jackson spent Saturday morning at a breakfast meet-and-greet in Mineral Bluff before heading to Canton for an afternoon rally with Gov. Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp.
Meanwhile, Democrats held their own get-out-the-vote events ahead of Trump's rally. U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg hosted a Saturday afternoon canvass launch in Atlanta. The event focused on health care and living costs before sending volunteers to knock on doors for Democratic candidates up and down the ballot.
The rallies come amid record early voting numbers across Georgia for the midterm elections. More than 1.6 million voters have cast ballots since early voting opened on Oct. 13. Early voting continues across the state through Friday, Oct. 30.
The other side:
Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms' campaign swiftly pushed back on the Perry event, arguing that Jackson's close public alignment with Trump demonstrates where his true priorities lie.
Dressed in a matching dark suit and red tie alongside Trump, Jackson has frequently embraced the president on the campaign trail, previously pledging to govern "just like Trump," serve as "Trump's favorite governor," and bring "Trump with a Southern tone" to the state Capitol.
Bottoms' campaign seized on Trump's comments about being Jackson's "first call" to highlight contrasting governing agendas.
"The first thing Keisha Lance Bottoms will do as governor is take action to expand Medicaid. The first thing Rick Jackson will do is call his boss, Donald Trump," said TaNisha Cameron, spokesperson for Keisha for Governor. "As hundreds of thousands of Georgians lose health coverage and families struggle with rising costs, Rick Jackson is busy proving his loyalty to Trump while Keisha is talking about her plans to protect Georgia's hospitals and bring down costs. This rally made it clear that Rick Jackson will work for Donald Trump, while Keisha Lance Bottoms will work for the people of Georgia."
What they're saying:
Praising Jackson, Trump highlighted the candidate's personal background and business success.
"He started as a foster child and became worth hundreds of millions of dollars and said, I want to straighten out the great state you love," Trump said.
Trump also voiced his backing for Collins.
"One of the most respected congressman one of the most respected people in Washington, D.C. in Senate he will protect borders, safety, culture, religion and heritage," Trump told the crowd.
Both candidates took to the stage to rally supporters ahead of the upcoming election.
"I don’t have anything to prove I really don’t, but I have a lot to give and that’s why I'm running. I need your votes," Jackson said.
Collins urged the crowd to help elect him in his bid to unseat his opponent.
"Help me get there and I'll continue to deliver more affordable, more prosperous Georgia, and we will haul the trust fund kid out of there," Collins said.
Trump assured attendees that both candidates would have his full support if elected, promising economic growth for the state.
"With these two people, it's going to boom like never before, and I'm going to help them make it, I'm going to help them make it boom," Trump said.
What we don't know:
Venue officials have not released an official attendance estimate for Saturday evening's rally.
The Source: Information in this article was gathered from speeches delivered by President Donald Trump, Rick Jackson, and Mike Collins at the Georgia National Fairgrounds rally in Perry, official statements on Truth Social, campaign advisories from the Collins and Jackson campaigns, and early voting data published by the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office.