Political Rewind: Gov. Kemp in Savannah ahead of Ian; Political ad spending reaches new heights

Caption

Gov. Brian Kemp joined state and local emergency management officials, local leaders, and others in Savannah to provide an update on Tropical Storm Ian preparations and the state's planned response.

Credit: Gov. Brian Kemp via Twitter

The panel

Andra Gillespie, @AndraGillespie, professor of political science & director, James Weldon Johnson Institute for the Study of Race and Difference, Emory University
Charles Bullock, professor of political science, University of Georgia
Rick Dent, vice president, Matrix Communications and political advertising expert
 

The breakdown

1. Gov. Kemp has arrived in Savannah ahead of Hurricane Ian. The state's response to the storm might sway the minds of voters.

• Weeks away from the election, Kemp is visiting Savannah to assure residents that the state will respond to any emergencies that Hurricane Ian will bring.
• Rick Dent says strong leadership brings out voters.

2. The state election board has strongly objected to the security breach at the Coffee County elections office.

• Six weeks away from the midterms, the board must now persuade voters that elections are safe and secure.

3. Democrats have seemingly lost voters' favor. What can we learn from polls?

• In an opinion for the Washington Post, Dr. Charles Bullock says Georgia is neither red nor blue, and isn't changing anytime soon.
• Democrats hope issues like abortion access will turn out large swaths of voters. It remains to be seen if that strategy will work out.

4. Statewide races continue to see massive spending on political ads.

• Anti-Walker ads continue to focus on a history of domestic abuse. Other attack ads are focusing on gifts to charities, but they might be misleading.
• Anti-Warnock ads accuse him of being "soft on crime" and take up culture war topics, like trans athletes competing in high school sports.

Friday on Political Rewind: Retired AJC columnist Jim Galloway joins the panel.