Abrams and Kemp battle over abortion, guns and crime in heated Georgia debate - NBC News

ATLANTA — Republican Gov. Brian Kemp and Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams clashed successful a statement Monday nighttime implicit issues from guns and transgression to abortion and predetermination laws.

The statement came astatine a important clip for Abrams arsenic she seeks to summation crushed aft having trailed successful the polls each year. Kemp is starring Abrams by 5 to 6 percent points successful averages of recent surveys, with conscionable 3 weeks to spell until Election Day.

“I’m connected the close broadside of past and connected the close broadside of the issues. But we besides cognize that polls are a snapshot. The question is: Who are they taking a representation of?” Abrams said aboriginal successful the statement erstwhile she was asked wherefore polls suggest Kemp is much fashionable adjacent though voters person indicated enactment for her positions connected termination and Medicaid expansion. “I bash not judge that I’m behind. I judge I’m making the lawsuit for Georgia.”

Kemp, who has signed a prohibition connected abortions aft six weeks, declared aboriginal connected successful the statement that helium "would not" prosecute further restrictions connected termination oregon people contraception if helium is re-elected. "That's not my tendency to bash that," helium said.

Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams, from left, shakes hands with Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp arsenic Libertarian challenger Shane Hazel stands astatine close pursuing the Atlanta Press Club Loudermilk-Young Debate Series successful Atlanta, connected Monday.Ben Gray / AP

Monday's showdown, the archetypal of 2 scheduled debates betwixt Kemp and Abrams, was held connected the aforesaid time aboriginal voting kicked disconnected successful Georgia, a battleground authorities wherever they are locked successful a rematch of their acrimonious 2018 race. They were joined onstage by Libertarian Party campaigner Shane Hazel.

Abrams vowed to judge the effect of the 2022 election, triumph oregon lose.

"I volition ever admit the result of an election, but I volition ne'er contradict entree to each vote, due to the fact that that is the work of each American to support the close to vote," Abrams said, accusing Kemp of seeking to restrict Georgians' close to vote.

Kemp defended his actions connected ballot entree successful Georgia. “Ms. Abrams is going to prevarication astir my record, due to the fact that she doesn’t privation to speech astir her own," helium said.

Abrams emphasized her enactment for instrumentality enforcement erstwhile Kemp asked her however galore sheriffs person endorsed her campaign, saying she doesn't person the luxury of reducing her level to a slogan. "We request information and justice," she said.

Kemp rejoined: "The reply is zero."

Abrams deed Kemp for restricting ineligible termination and backing permissive weapon laws, which she said person made Georgia little safe. “We person a politician who’s weakened weapon laws crossed the state, flooded our streets with guns by letting unsafe radical get entree to the weapons,” she said, calling for waiting periods and cosmopolitan inheritance checks, among different policies.

The candidates were divided implicit whether to grow Medicaid nether the 2010 Affordable Care Act, which would widen sum to an estimated 450,000 Georgians. Kemp has rejected expanding Medicaid, calling it a “broken authorities program,” portion Abrams argued it’s indispensable to support Georgians.

Kemp sought to necktie Abrams to President Joe Biden, whom helium blamed for inflation. “Stacey Abrams campaigned to beryllium Joe Biden’s moving mate. She supports these policies,” helium said.

Abrams highlighted her assertive plans to usage Georgia’s fund surplus to rise teacher wage and boost backing for preschool. She besides insisted that adjacent a Republican-led Legislature wouldn't thwart her progressive ideas if she is elected.

"I don't really judge determination is staunch Republican opposition," she said, touting her enactment "with radical to find retired however to get solutions" from her clip arsenic number person of the authorities House.

In closing, Kemp made his lawsuit for a 2nd term, saying: "Georgia is the top authorities successful the state to live, enactment and rise our children, and that’s wherefore I’m asking for your ballot of enactment to support it that way."

Abrams closed with criticism: "Brian Kemp did marque promises. He promised to support america safe, but transgression has gone up. He promised to support us, and yet he’s attacked our freedoms. He promised to instrumentality attraction of our families, and yet the rising prices successful Georgia are rising due to the fact that helium refuses to grow Medicaid, due to the fact that helium refuses to tackle the affordable lodging crisis."