Raw story Georgia voters learned of Herschel Walker’s ex-wife’s domestic violence allegations, multiple children from wedlock, and most recently assertions by a former girlfriend that he had paid for an abortion and encouraged her to terminate the second while opposing abortion.
Raw story Walker, a former football player and first-time candidate for the presidency, denied the claim and expressed surprise at what he had done to his party. Some Republicans who were close to him weren’t surprised by the latest claim. They had been discussing this moment for months.
His team was ready to defend him against allegations that he had threatened his ex-wife. This claim has been known for many years. Two people who were familiar with the conversation say that some advisers knew about an abortion claim made in particular by one of Mr Walker’s children. People who knew Walker said that they advised him to be prepared for the possibility of those details becoming political campaign fodder. But Mr Walker refused.
These people stated that the issue frustrated Walker the most. Although Mr Walker denied the pregnancy, he refused to discuss a plan for handling the case. He maintained that the details of the matter would not be made public. He would sometimes argue that even if the account of his ex-girlfriend was released, it wouldn’t be believed because he had a baby with her, according to two people who spoke under anonymity.
Walker Campaign declined to comment.
As he prepares to debate his Democratic opponent on Friday, the party must confront the fact that Republicans in Georgia and Washington made a political mistake months ago. With the backing of Donald J. Trump and Mr Walker’s star power, Republican leaders led by Senator Mitch McConnell (the minority leader) considered resistance to Mr Walker futile.
They chose to confront Mr Trump and his chosen candidate in a race that could decide control of the Senate.
The Georgia Senate race is an illustration of Trump-era Republicanism. Old-guard party leaders didn’t so much lead their voters as follow them. The Raw story evangelical wing was quick to compromise. Mr Trump changed the rules and made celebrity a substitute.
Geoff Duncan, the Republican lieutenant governor in Georgia, said that “the most rational-minded people were wanting to pedal the brakes on [what felt like] a runaway train.” He was referring to Mr Walker. “Republicans were content to win the first half in the football game in the primary and not pay any attention to what happened in the second half, which was the general.”
Donald Trump’s critic Mr Duncan said that he wouldn’t vote for Senator Raphael Warnock as the Democratic incumbent but wasn’t sure if he would support Mister Walker.
It’s still a close race. Polls show that Mr Walker’s support is dipping slightly. But in a tight race, this could mean the difference. His party leaders stood by him. The raw story He still exudes the brazen confidence of a star athlete.
The Final Stretch: A Times/Siena poll reveals that independents, particularly women, are moving towards the G.O.P. with elections coming up next month. Despite Democrats’ emphasis on abortion rights, voters are worried about the economy.
The 2020 Election in Question: A Times analysis revealed that hundreds of Republicans on the November ballot have cast doubt on the 2020’s election. Many of these candidates are expected to win their races.
Georgia Senate Race: This race could decide whether Democrats retain control of the Senate. It has been increasingly focused on Herschel Walker’s private life and the alleged hypocrisy of the Republican nominee.
Jill Biden: This is the most beloved surrogate in the Biden government. She has been a lifeline to Democratic candidates looking for attention and money in midterms.
Mr Walker said this to Fox News on his campaign bus this week: Raw story “They don’t realize they’ve woken the grizzly bear.” “I have won at everything that I set my mind to.”
He has often mentioned his mental health problems — he was diagnosed with disassociative identification disorder. He has not denied allegations of domestic violence and suggested that the disorder was to blame for his previous outbursts as well as his erratic behaviour. He describes himself as “a once-troubled” man who has been “saved through grace”. Democrats claim Mr Walker is a “pattern of lying” and is not qualified to serve. The outcome of the race will depend on what version Mr. Walker’s voters believe.
David Shafer, chairman of the Georgia Republican Party, stated that there are always risks when it comes to first-time candidates. “But the potential reward is never without risk.”
Trump wanted Walker to be in the race from the beginning. Heisman Trophy winner and national champion for the University of Georgia, Mr Walker made Mr Trump a celebrity candidate. He was a Black Republican and a step towards diversifying the party that is overwhelmingly white.
The draw was not just political. They have been friends for many decades and, just like he did for White House jobs or other endorsements, Trump allowed his personal connections to override background checks and other research that are usually required in high-profile job searches.
Mr. Walker was close to Donald Trump as a young athlete. He had just graduated from college and signed the New Jersey Generals franchise of the United States Football League in 1983. The team was purchased by Mr Trump months later.
Mr. Walker was a sort of surrogate uncle for Mr Trump’s children. They often spent long summers with him. Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and his brother Donald Trump Jr., whom Mr Walker sometimes calls “Little Donald” – have been warmly receptive to colleagues about their trips to Disney World with Mr Walker.
How Times journalists cover politics. Our journalists must be impartial observers. Times staff are allowed to vote but they are not permitted to endorse candidates or campaigns for political causes. Raw story Participating in rallies and marches to support a movement, giving money or raising funds for any political candidate, election cause, or candidate is prohibited.
When Mr Walker speaks about his relationship to Donald Trump, he stresses their friendship. In a May interview, Mr Walker stated that Trump has eaten at his home. “I have eaten at his house. His home has been a favourite of my family.”
When Mr Walker was a contestant in Mr Trump’s reality TV program, Mr Trump was even more enthusiastic. When Mr Trump kicked Mr Walker off Celebrity Apprentice, he said that he was not gay and that he loved him.
According to Republicans close to Walker, Walker reacted angrily to questions from advisers and friends about his past. He refused to answer any questions in private, refusing to accept responsibility for his actions. The raw story He became frustrated by direct questions and raised doubts regarding the loyalty of his team. Last year, a Republican strategist spoke to Mr Walker and said that Walker kept repeating how easy it was going be.
Christian Walker, the son of Mr Walker, said that he knew his father was a difficult man and advised him to not run. However, he didn’t know anything about the abortion issue.
Christian Walker sent an email to The Times stating that he tried his best to prepare him. Honesty was the best way to move forward. This clearly wasn’t the case.
(Mr Walker repeatedly stated that he loved Christian, but he seems to have become frustrated by the Democrats’ public criticism of his son. “I hope they pay him,” Mr Walker stated this week. “Because I’ve been paying his rent for a long time.”
Walker was optimistic about his bid. According to internal polling, Walker’s approval rating among Georgia Republicans was higher than 90%. His local star power combined with the vocal support of Donald Trump made him almost untouchable in a Republican primary.
“If your name was Herschel Walker and you’re a conservative pro-lifer, with his name ID and celebrity and impressive fund-raising abilities, the primary was over the morning he entered it,” Ralph Reed, chair of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, stated.
Trump was also unconcerned about Mr Walker’s history. “Twenty years ago, it would have been a greater problem. According to Maggie Haberman (Times reporter), he stated that he doesn’t believe it’s a problem now.
When asked to explain, the ex-president, who was caught bragging about groping women and was accused of sexual assault, replied: “Because it is changing.”
McConnell, the second most powerful Republican politician, had different ideas about who should be running.
The state was central to Mr McConnell’s plan to regain control in 2022, starting from the moment that two losses in Georgia’s runoffs cost Republicans their Senate majority in Jan 2021. According to someone briefed, McConnell had asked Senator David Perdue, Georgia, to reconsider running for the presidency this year even before he publicly acknowledged defeat.
However, Mr Perdue did not entertain the idea for too long. He flew to Florida in February for a visit with Mr Trump and played a round of golf. Within days, Mr Perdue declared he would not run and shortly thereafter, Mr Trump made a public statement urging him to “Run Herschel! Run!”
McConnell didn’t take no for an answer.
News stories started to uncover new details over the summer about allegations that Walker threatened his ex-wife’s lives, exaggerated financial success claims, and alarmed business associates with unpredictability. Josh Holmes, Mr McConnell’s long-time political advisor, tweeted one Associated Press article and called it “about the most comprehensive takedown I’ve ever seen”. My lord.”)
A few days earlier, McConnell met Mr Perdue at Capitol to verify that the ex-senator’s decision not to run was still valid. It was. In August, Mr Walker entered the race and soon the two men began to speak frequently. According to two people who were briefed on the calls, Mr McConnell felt more at ease as Walker became more interested in his advice. He had officially endorsed Walker within two months.
McConnell accepted Mr Walker as his candidate, knowing that he would make the race about him, rather than the Democratic nominee. This was the complete opposite of his preferred strategy. In spring 2022, McConnell was publicly defending Walker’s turbulent past.
McConnell stated that “almost every candidate has experienced troubled periods”, when he was asked about his ex-wife’s claims of violence. He paused and said, “I think Walker’s completely electable.”
Others disagreed. Gary Black, Georgia’s straight-talking agricultural commissioner, was elected to the primary race just a few months ahead of Mr Walker. As the momentum for his opponent increased, Mr Black said that his party was ready to give up the lead.
He argued that Mr Walker was a political novice from a turbulent past who would not be able to make the race about Democrats.
In an interview, Mr Black stated that Herschel is the nominee if Herschel walks wins.
In the fall of 2021, Mr Black’s team presented a video of Mrs Walker’s ex-wife talking about how he threatened to shoot her temple while holding a gun to it. One official stated that the meeting was meant to be about general election strategy and party officials had made it impossible for them to turn it off.
Democrats have repeatedly aired the same clip.
Reporting was contributed by Lisa Lerer and Reid J. Epstein.
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