Thread by @MurphyAJC

.@DavidPerdueGA’s opening message in the first GOP governor’s debate: “First off, let me be very clear, the election in 2020 was rigged and stolen:” #gapol

.@GovKemp’s opening message— “I want to promise you this tonight if you will nominate me as your Republican nominee, I will work every single day…to make sure that Stacey Abrams is never your governor, or your next president.”

Early fireworks over 2020 at GOP governor’s debate: David Perdue says he’d still be in the Senate if Kemp had not “caved.” Kemp says Perdue is lying: “Weak leaders blame everybody else for their own loss instead of themselves.” #gapol

So many punches in this GOP debate: @GovKemp to @DavidPerdueGA; “The only one lying here is you.”

.@bluestein’s book, @TheFlippedBook gets a shoutout during GOP governor’s debate. Perdue says “It’s even in Greg Bluestein’s book!” Kemp responds, “I don’t care about some reporter’s book!” #gapol

The Ga GOP governor’s debate tonight feels like family counseling gone awry. Accusations and grievances pouring out from both candidates. Perdue keeps hammering the “consent decree” that Kemp played no role in. “You’re blaming everyone but yourself for your loss!” Kemp says.

The first 24 minutes of the debate have been about the 2020 election, which is actually what @DavidPerdueGA wants to talk about. Kemp tried to pivot to jobs and the economy. #gapol

.@Bluestein asks about the divisive concepts bill that the legislature signed. Kemp says he’s proud of his record of teacher pay raises, the parents bill of rights, the unmask schools act.

.@GovKemp asked about the drop in support from Latino voters and his promise in 2018 to “round up all the illegals.” Kemp says, “Latino voters are like me,” small business owners, etc. but adds, “We have a disaster at the border.”

Perdue says he remembers Kemp’s promise to use his pickup to deport undocumented immigrants. “Governor, what happened? Did your pickup break down?” #gapol

Perdue also says Kemp has failed to address crime in Atlanta, although it’s in fact been a major focus of Kemp’s. “While you’ve just been talking about it, I’ve been doing something about it,” Kemp says. #gapol

Asked by @JustinFarmerWSB about permitless carry, Kemp says it’s “common sense.” Perdue says they agree on the issue, his only complaint about it is that Kemp didn’t push for it until he got into the race for Governor.

Perdue says Kemp “wouldn’t let the people of Buckhead vote,” although the legislation never even got a vote in the General Assembly. “Why did you keep your power dry?”

This is new from Perdue on Buckhead City: “I personally support them seceding from the City of Atlanta.” Kemp won’t take a position on Atlanta splitting, says his focus is on stopping crime in Atlanta while the General Assembly deals with the legislation.

Gas prices come up: “what can a governor do?” @GovKemp says he passed the gas tax holiday, along with emergency orders to let truckers haul more. @DavidPerdueGA says the two-month suspension is “almost cruel when it expires seven days after the election.”