Georgia midterms bring debates, record early voting and visits from Trump and Vance – CBS News

Georgia midterms bring debates, record early voting and visits from Trump and Vance  CBS News

With early voting underway, candidates are stepping up efforts to connect with voters across Georgia.Candidates in some of the state's biggest races took the Atlanta Press Club's debate stage this week. Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff debated his Republican challenger, U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, on Tuesday. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms appeared alone Monday after her Republican opponent in the governor's race, Rick Jackson, declined the club's invitation.National Republican leaders are also visiting Georgia. Vice President JD Vance met with supporters Wednesday at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. President Donald Trump is scheduled to hold a campaign rally Friday in Dalton.Omar Ali, an independent political strategist who has worked with Gov.

Brian Kemp and former Vice President Kamala Harris, said Georgia's crossover voters make it a critical state for both parties."And so in Georgia, you have a lot of crossover votes," Ali said. "And so if the right message is sent, it can go either way."Georgia also set a first-day early voting record for a midterm election this week. The secretary of state's office reported 188,667 in-person ballots Tuesday, an increase of about 40% over the first day in 2022.Ali said concerns about federal policies and rising costs could be driving voters to the polls."So we're feeling that across the entire nation. And so Republicans and Democrats are feeling that,"