What to expect in Georgia's first senatorial debate

October 13th, 2022

Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) (left) and Republican nominee Hershel Walker (right) are the major party nominees in the Georgia Senate race

Democratic U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker face off for the first, and what could be the only, face-to-face debate on Friday ahead of the November 8^th election.

The debate is set to take place in Savannah and will be broadcast by Nexstar Media Group.

University of North Georgia Communications Professor Tom Preston sat down with WABE’s “All Things Considered” to give his take on where each candidate sits going into the debate.

He says many see Walker as likable and that if he was Walker’s debate consultant, he’d coach the nominee to play that up while sticking to the issues.

“About things like the economy, about some of the things he’s going to promote in terms of possibly being a swing vote in the United States Senate,” said Preston.

Walker has recently come under scrutiny for allegations of domestic abuse and violence as well as reports that he paid for an ex-girlfriend’s abortion even though, as a candidate, he supports a total ban on the procedure with no exceptions.

Preston says Warnock will also have pitfalls to avoid, despite his prowess as an orator, given his many years as a pastor and teacher.

“I would say stress, as he has in some of his campaign ads, some of the things he’s been able to do – particularly to counteract the notion that he’s an extremist and show that he actually has worked across the aisle on a number of issues,” said Preston.