Posted on 05/06/2021 1:48:58 PM PDT by RandFan
Vernon Jones is closing the gap with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp in the nascent Republican gubernatorial primary ahead of next year's elections, according to polling obtained by The Hill.
An internal poll commissioned by Jones’s campaign and conducted by the GOP firm Remington Research Group shows Kemp with a narrow 39 percent to 35 percent lead over Jones among likely Republican primary voters, putting him just slightly outside the survey’s 3 percentage point margin of error.
There are signs that Jones has room to grow his support further. Twenty-six percent of respondents said they are still undecided in the race, and overall, 55 percent said they are open to considering another candidate, compared to 35 percent who are committed to backing Kemp’s reelection in 2022.
Jones, a former state representative and Democrat who joined the GOP in January, launched his bid for governor last month, becoming the first and only prominent Republican so far to challenge Kemp.
Once seen as a staunch ally of former President Trump, Kemp became a political punching bag for the businessman after he rejected Trump’s pleas to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. Trump has vowed to campaign against him next year, though he has not yet endorsed Jones’s bid.
The poll from Jones’s campaign illustrates just how much influence Trump may end up having in the race.
Eighty-seven percent of GOP primary voters reported a favorable opinion of the former president, nearly twice as many as the 45 percent who said they have a favorable view of Kemp. Presented with a hypothetical endorsement from Trump, the poll shows Jones pulling ahead of Kemp, at 38 percent to 36 percent.
The poll also found that a plurality of respondents — 43 percent — identify as "Trump Republicans," compared to 22 percent who see themselves as “Evangelical Republicans," 17 percent as "traditional Republicans" and 4 percent as Libertarians.
Jones remains an unknown quantity to many GOP voters in Georgia. While 33 percent said they have a favorable opinion of him and 20 percent reported an unfavorable opinion, nearly half of respondents, a 47 percent, said they have no opinion at all of him.
The poll, fielded from May 1-3, is based on responses from 1,040 likely 2022 Republican primary voters in Georgia.
It’s unclear who else may enter the GOP primary for Georgia governor. Former Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), a top Trump ally who was once seen as a potential candidate, announced last month that he would not run for any public office in 2022. State Sen. Burt Jones is also seen as a potential contender.
Kick Kemp to the Kurb!
A poll by the shill? Might as well have one by Frank Luntz
Thirty nine percent for an incumbent within his own party is the kiss of death.
Kemp is not going to get reelected without fraud. With Georgia I have little hope for an honest election and the GOPe might “select” the winner.
“...after he rejected Trump’s pleas to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia”
No bias there. An editorial disguised as news.
Georgian has OPEN PRIMARIES.
If Big Momma runs unopposed in her primary, then all the Dems will flood in to vote for Kemp in his primary. It's a good strategy by them. Trump voters will not hold their noses and vote for the RINO slug who gave the Steal to Joe.
The conservatives must get behind ONE Trump-endorsed candidate and get out and vote as if their lives depended on it. And while you're at it, vote out every RINO who must face a primary in 2022, especially in the GA state legislature.
He should have stayed a Democrat. Run as a Democrat and been endorsed by Trump as Democrat. Another Repuke could have battled Kemp in the Primary that way you play both sides and can’t lose. Then you point to Trump’s willingness to endorse the right person no matter the side of the ledger. I guess I should be the strategic making 8 figures.
A 5 month Republican? Let the man prove himself. That said, other than his pro-abortion votes, he has been more conservative than many Republicans, but his pro-abortion stance might be a big problem with southern conservatives.
Trump should definitely endorse Jones - and campaign for him.
I cannot imagine any Republican voting for Kemp. He and Raffensperger are the two most hated men in GA.
yeah, but he has Dominion Software on his side
It needs to just be one opponent.
Vernon Jones can win it outright.
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