More than a week after Herschel Walker was accused of promoting and paying for an ex-girlfriend’s 2009 abortion, the Georgia Republican on Friday attempted to moderate his harsh position against the practice.
In his first and presumably only debate with Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, Walker claimed he is still “pro-life” and assailed the incumbent for supporting abortion rights. But he indicated that he agreed with the state of Georgia’s statute that provides exceptions for rape, incest, and the mother’s life while forbidding abortion after six weeks, a position that contrasts with Walker’s words earlier this year.
Walker’s remark contradicted statements he had made repeatedly on the campaign trail, including in July when he declared “it’s a problem” that there is no national ban.
Walker said Friday that his opinion is the same as Georgia’s state law, the so-called heartbeat bill that outlaws abortion at six weeks before many women discover they’re pregnant. That rule went into force this year after the Supreme Court reversed the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that permitted abortions nationally.
The debate in Georgia’s premier Senate fight was held only days before in-person early voting begins Monday. The outcome will help determine which party controls the Senate for the next two years of President Joe Biden’s tenure.
The passionate argument on abortion was one of many that exposed profound contrasts between the two men on policy, personality, and governing philosophy. The discussion covered a wide range of themes, including abortion, personal integrity, crime, and student debt, and prompted both men to respond to accusations that have saturated voters’ television screens and social media feeds for months.
Walker, a Georgia football star mounting his first candidacy for public office, leaned heavily on claims that Warnock is a puppet of President Joe Biden, claiming the Nov. 8 midterm election is about what those two “had done to you and your family” in an inflationary economy. Warnock, who is senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, said that the election is a choice about “who is ready to represent Georgia.”
Warnock never directly brought up the fresh charges about Walker paying for an abortion, leaving that to moderators, who garnered another blank denial from the Republican nominee. Trying to divert the conversation, Walker criticized Warnock for being a Baptist preacher who supports abortion rights and claimed he doesn’t care about abortions in the Black community. Both men are Black.
Warnock refused to answer if Biden should seek reelection or if the president’s age was a factor, insisting he had not considered the matter. Walker stated he was in support of Donald Trump running for president again in 2024.
Both candidates expressed their willingness to accept the conclusion of the November election, regardless of who is declared the victor.
The candidates shook hands after walker Softens Abortion Stance in an Argument With Warnock during the discussion, with Walker, then touching Warnock on the arm as if he wanted to continue talking. Warnock rejected the request and returned to his podium. In Georgia, early voting begins on Monday.