“Since we don’t control the air, our good air decides to go to China’s bad air. So when China gets our good air, their bad air will move. So it’s going to move into our good air, then,” Walker said.
Many Georgia Republicans told CNN they were concerned about Walker’s string of indiscretions and inattentive strategy. Some said they feared he was not equipped to take on Senator Raphael Warnock, his well-funded and disciplined Democratic Party opponent in one of the 2022 midterm races.
Republicans in the state say they believe the race is much closer but Walker is likely to still stick to single numbers.
“I think he’s most likely the only one on [GOP] “Whenever he speaks in public, it not only doesn’t ignite confidence, it causes a crisis of confidence,” said a Republican employee in Georgia.
That’s part of why among Walker’s new hires – many of which were announced by the campaign this week – are several veteran GOP communications strategists from the DC area, including Brett O’ Donnell and Gail Gitcho. Additionally, seasoned Republican Georgia strategist Chip Lake joined Walker’s campaign as a supportive associate adviser with campaign manager Scott Paradise, who worked with Lake during the campaign. Doug Collins’s unsuccessful Senate run in 2020.
Walker’s team said the staffing announcements – including a new chief communications officer, new chief financial officer and new chief political officer – did not represent a shake-up as much as an expansion following a preliminary review. relatively uncompetitive level.
“It’s not typical, to have a bunch of people involved at this point in a campaign,” Gitcho told CNN.
But other Republicans say the issue will not be resolved with heavy backers from the GOP consulting world.
“The campaign lacked strategic planning because the candidate was so erratic,” said Erick Erickson, a conservative radio host based in Georgia. “I just found it remarkable that outside of the press secretary’s Twitter account, the campaign was virtually invisible.”
Walker mainly appears in private events and infrequent friendly media interviews. And Republican agents are scratching their heads at the campaign’s message.
For example, in the first official TV commercial, Walker makes his point about supporting the police and military and his desire to “bring people together”. A second GOP employee in Georgia said Walker’s ad was a wasted opportunity to tie Warnock with President Joe Biden and the Democratic majority in Washington.
“Is Herschel Walker really ready to represent Georgia?” the narrator concludes.
Republicans in Georgia say the assault from Warnock’s campaign will only get tougher in the coming months.
“I still don’t think Warnock’s team released the war hounds to attack Herschel,” the second GOP agent, who requested anonymity, said freely. “It’s not going to be a pretty picture. Those ads are pretty easy to write.”
There have been bright spots for the GOP candidate. Walker announced his best fundraising quarter on Wednesday – bringing in $6.2 million April-June between his campaign and supporting committees, with $7 million in funding. face in hand.
However, the Republican total was worse than his Democratic opponent, who reportedly raised his own record $17.2 million during the same period and had $22.2 million in cash. face in hand.
Still, even with the anxiety about Walker’s chances, some Republicans say they still believe the conditions going against Democrats nationally will outweigh the candidate’s shortcomings. their. They say Operation Walker is relying on that to happen.
“They assumed the wave was going to get Walker across the finish line and to be honest, I think they’re right,” Erickson said.
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