Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) is five percent ahead of Trump-backed Republican challenger Herschel Walker in a new survey of the Georgia Senate race in which Warnock is running for re-election that was released by Fox News.
Warnock obtained 46 percent of the support, while Walker got 41 percent. Warnock’s level of support, which reflects the opinions of registered voters, is unchanged from July polling released by Fox, while Walker’s ticked downwards by one percentage point, from 42 percent. Those voters seemingly went to the category including undecideds in the new polling, which grew by one percent since July, to 13 percent. That category also includes those who indicated support for another candidate or that they wouldn’t vote. If no candidate passes 50 percent in the November results, the race will presumably proceed to a runoff election in which the top two finishers — no doubt meaning Warnock and Walker — will face off alone. That’s the sort of election that originally provided Warnock with his currently unfolding stint in the Senate.
Warnock winning in November or in the subsequent runoff would provide him with a full, six-year term after serving the last two years of the final term of Sen. Johnny Isakson (R), who has since died. The Fox polling isn’t simply universally positive for Dems. It also shows a consistently significant lead for Georgia GOP Governor Brian Kemp, who’s running for re-election — after easily winning the primary against a Trump-supported challenger — against former state legislative leader and voting rights activist Stacey Abrams. In the Senate race, Warnock is seeing a huge advantage in enthusiasm among his supporters, according to the Fox polling out this week. A full 63 percent of Warnock’s backers indicated they supported the Democratic contender with enthusiasm. For Walker, that total was just 43 percent of his own supporters.
Additionally, although a similar overall portion suggested Warnock was out of touch with everyday Georgians, 45 percent of respondents expressed concerns Walker — who lies about a lot — isn’t qualified. Among other data, the poll also yet again finds that the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade could boost Democratic prospects in the elections. Largely, it’s Democrats pursuing options for protecting reproductive healthcare. A full 42 percent of respondents indicated they were angry about the court’s decision on Roe — and just 28 percent said they were happy about it. Most of the effect it’s having is in motivating those trying to protect basic healthcare opportunities — who are, well, the Democrats.
