Political Rewind: Differing tones in new primary ads; Greene to testify; A dip in voter registration

Credit: Sam Bermas-Dawes, GPB News

The panel:

Dr. Andra Gillespie — Professor of political science and director, Kames Weldon Johnson Institute for the Study of Race and Difference, Emory University

Charles Bullock — Richard B. Russell Chair in political science, University of Georgia

Rick Dent — Vice president Matrix Communications        

Jim Galloway — Former columnist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The breakdown:

1. Georgia candidates strike different tones in new ads as May's primary approach. 

• In a new ad, Stacey Abrams talks to undecided voters on the fence about voting for a Democrat. 
• In the gubernatorial race, David Perdue sees a $2 million boost.

2. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to appear in a court hearing today in a challenge filed by voters seeking to expel her from the ballot.

• A challenge to Greene's candidacy goes before a state administrative judge today.
  • It cites her words and actions around the U.S. Capitol attack.
• Greene is expected to testify.
• GPB's Stephen Fowler reports the challenge is unlikely to be successful.

3. Lower rates of voter registration through automatic process draw suspicion.

• The number of people registering to vote while applying for a Georgia driver's license dipped, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Mark Niesse reported.
• 80% of Georgians applying for a license registered to vote before the change to the DDS website.
  • After the change, rates dropped to 40%.
• Reporting found a subtle change to the state's website caused the dip.
  • The website was changed back following publicity of the change.

Monday on Political Rewind:

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Patricia Murphy joins our panel.