The Georgia Republican primary Senate runoff election Tuesday heated up in recent weeks when businessman David Perdue launched ads against Rep. Jack Kingston for the endorsement he received from the Chamber of Commerce, which Republican strategist Matt Towery says may have cost Perdue the nomination.
"There's been much ado about the Chamber of Commerce everywhere . . . the voters aren't focused on the Chamber of Commerce," Towery told John Bachman on "America's Forum" on
Newsmax TV on Tuesday.
Story continues below video.
Note: Watch Newsmax TV now on
DIRECTV Ch. 349 and
DISH Ch. 223
Get Newsmax TV on your cable system –
Click Here Now
In the ad, Perdue attacked Kingston for being endorsed by a group that supported "amnesty" for illegal immigrants. The ad was in reference to an endorsement Kingston received from the Chamber.
"They're really paying attention just to the general negative ads the two candidates run against each other and the positive ads that they run," he added.
Towery says that "the Perdue campaign got a little obsessed with the Chamber of Commerce, and in the end that may have cost them the possibility of getting the nomination."
In the latest poll released by Landmark Communication,
Kingston is leading Perdue among likely primary voters by seven percentage points — 48 percent to 41 percent.
Democratic strategist Joe Lestingi told Newsmax that the ugly runoff election between the two Republican candidates is good for Democratic candidate Michelle Nunn.
"Either candidate offers a really good contrast for us," Lestingi said.
"I hate to see divisive primaries that are as visceral as this, and in Georgia we don't see this that often, especially on the Republican side, but this thing has gotten really ugly and it's laid a lot of land mines out there for both candidates," the Democratic strategist explained.
"Michelle Nunn has a great background here," he said. "She's got private sector and non-profit history that's going to contrast well against Kingston's insider play like we discussed, and Perdue's made some comments here that appear to be alienating some of the key groups," he said.
"The Chamber, even though most voters don't pay attention to the Chamber, the Chamber does bring a lot of resources to the table for Republicans to communicate their message," Lestingi said.
"It sounds like if Perdue gets the nomination, they may not be too happy with him and they may either sit out or consider Michelle's candidacy," he explained. "This is good for us."
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.