Herschel Walker’s success in the Georgia Senate runoff could hinge on the participation and backing of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), rather than former President Donald Trump, according to some Republicans.
Trump helped recruit his friend Walker into the Senate contest last year. However, Trump’s relationship with Georgia has been uneasy since election runoffs in January 2021 that saw two Democratic Senators elected, Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, thereby delivering control of the upper chamber of Congress to the Democrats. Trump’s focus on denying the result of the presidential election, as well as relentless criticism of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) and secretary of state Brad Raffensperger, means he isn’t as embraced in the Peach State as other red states.
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Ralph Reed, president of Faith and Freedom Coalition, believes that while Trump could be helpful with driving turnout, DeSantis, or Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), could be more beneficial.
“I think that [Virginia Gov. Glenn] Youngkin or DeSantis is a better fit for soft Republicans or independents in the suburbs that we need to turn out,” Reed told CNN.
A person close to the Walker campaign told the outlet that DeSantis campaigning for Walker would be a “huge draw.” The Florida governor, who was handily reelected, did not stump for his next-door neighbor Kemp.
“DeSantis would be helpful. Youngkin would be helpful. Kemp will be helpful,” Erick Erickson, a Georgia-based conservative radio host, said. “I think those are the biggest draws in Georgia.”
However, Trump allies told CNN that it would be “exponentially harder” to convince Trump to stay out of the state if DeSantis throws his lot behind Walker. The former president has increased his verbal volleys on DeSantis in the wake of Tuesday night’s midterm results. Trump also launched a broadside against Youngkin on Friday.
“Imagine [Trump] seeing Ron campaign for Herschel while he is being told, ‘Please stay away,'” the person said. “He would go ballistic.”
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President Joe Biden, who beat Trump in the 2020 presidential election, has not announced a reelection bid but has said he intends to run again. Trump is expected to announce his reelection campaign on Nov. 15.
“Since Tuesday night, the No. 1 question I’ve been getting is, ‘Is Trump going to screw this up?’” Erickson said.
