Political Rewind: Abrams, Perdue rule headlines; U.S. debt ceiling raised; Opposition to Buckhead

The Panelists:

Patricia Murphy — Politics reporter and columnist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Sam Olens — Former Georgia attorney general

Michael Thurmond — CEO, DeKalb County

The Breakdown:

1. GOP deals with aftermath of former Sen. David Perdue’s big announcement: 

• Perdue endorsed Gov. Brian Kemp’s campaign in 2018. 

• The Perdue campaign announcement said Kemp caved on the 2020 elections. But the Georgia’s governor and secretary of state aren’t allowed to overturn the results of the election.

• The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Patricia Murphy said the last time an incumbent governor lost a primary in Georgia was almost 100 years ago.

2. Abrams lays out her political agenda.

• Meanwhile, Abrams spoke with our political reporter Stephen Fowler.  

• In the interview, she highlighted her ‘One Georgia’ campaign theme and did not mention her GOP opponents, Gov. Brian Kemp or David Perdue, by name. 

• DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said Democrats in Georgia should worry about directly addressing their constituency's basic needs.  

3. Congress raises debt ceiling.

• The U.S. Senate voted Thursday to raise the debt ceiling. The House passed the legislation on Tuesday by a vote of 222-212. 

• The bill now goes to President Joe Biden for his signature. 

• Congress is planning to raise the debt limit by $2 trillion ahead of next week’s Dec. 15 default deadline. 

4. The Latest on the Buckhead city movement 

• An increase in crime in the affluent neighborhood is driving the movement.  

• Atlanta's new Mayor-elect Andre Dickens says he's against Buckhead splitting off from the city. 

• Patricia Murphy said top Republican lawmaker Speaker David Ralston will continue to mull over the Buckhead referendum in the new year.  

A bright note for your weekend: The Elf on the Shelf tradition was started by from a book by Cobb County author Chanda Bell and her mother, Carol Aebersold.