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โIโm blissful to endorse Herschel Walker for U.S. Senate in Georgia,โ McConnell mentioned in an announcement Wednesday. โHerschel is the one one who can unite the social gathering, defeat Senator Warnock, and assist us take again the Senate. I stay up for working with Herschel in Washington to get the job accomplished.โ
Subsequent 12 monthsโs Senate race in Georgia is a key alternative for the GOP to select up a seat and achieve a majority within the chamber.
Walker is working for the prospect to tackle first-term Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, who received the seat in a runoff in the beginning of the 12 months. Walker introduced his candidacy in August after public encouragement from former President Donald Trump and raised $3.7 million within the 5 weeks after launching his bid.
The endorsement marks an entire evolution in McConnellโs pondering on Walker.
Over the summer time, earlier than Walker entered the race, McConnell had privately expressed issues along with his potential candidacy.
He sought to recruit former Georgia Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler to run once more after their slender losses in Januaryโs runoff elections. And a few of his allies despatched a transparent message within the press that McConnell seen Walker as a harmful gamble for Republicans.
However even after a string of unfavorable tales in regards to the former soccer star, together with accusations that he threatened and abused girls, Walker formally joined the race in late August. Days later, Trump endorsed him.
These developments compelled McConnell to recalibrate his method to the Republican major within the Peach State. Whereas some institution Republicans nonetheless held out hope McConnell would possibly think about backing a Walker opponent, the GOP chiefโs stance towards Trumpโs favored candidate clearly softened.
Final month, McConnell downplayed the allegations of abuse in opposition to Walker in an interview with Politico.
โThere are some issues written that point out he is had some challenges in his life. However, the excellent news is, he is made a number of spectacular performances on nationwide tv,โ McConnell instructed Politico, including, โI believe thereโs each indication he will be a very good candidate.โ
The desk was set for McConnell to again Walker after Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Republican in Senate management, endorsed Walker on Monday.
One Republican operative instructed CNN on Wednesday that the Walker endorsement was an indication that McConnell was merely โembracing the inevitable.โ
Different Republican candidates vying to tackle Warnock subsequent 12 months embody Georgia agriculture commissioner Gary Black, development agency proprietor Kelvin King and banking govt and Navy veteran Latham Saddler.
Of those different candidates, solely Saddler had raised respectable quantities of cash, topping greater than $1 million in each the second and third quarters of the 12 months. And none have the identify recognition and legendary standing of Walker, the Heisman Trophy-winning working again for the College of Georgia soccer crew.
Nonetheless, Walkerโs nomination would current explicit challenges to the social gatheringโs effort to defeat Warnock.
โThere are some issues written that point out he is had some challenges in his life. However, the excellent news is, he is made a number of spectacular performances on nationwide tv,โ McConnell instructed Politico, including, โI believe thereโs each indication he will be a very good candidate.โ
Different Republican candidates vying to tackle Warnock subsequent 12 months embody Georgia agriculture commissioner Gary Black, development agency proprietor Kelvin King and banking govt and Navy veteran Latham Saddler.
CNNโs Sara Murray contributed to this report.
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