Trump Bashes Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, Says Stacey Abrams Would Be Better

President Donald Trump is continuing to publicly criticize Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R), a move some Republicans fear will allow Democrats to gain control of the swing state in next year’s midterm elections.

At a rally in Perry on Saturday, Trump bashed Kemp and said Democrat Stacey Abrams would be a better choice as governor of Georgia. “Having her, I think, might be better than having your existing governor, if you want to know what I think,” Trump said. “Stacey, would you like to take his place? It’s ok with me.”

Abrams lost to Kemp by fewer than 30,000 votes in a bitter race for governor in 2018.

The former President’s ostensible support for Abrams is causing the Georgia GOP to panic. “I think the most notable part is the quiet of everyone in the GOP in Georgia, no one agrees with him. No one is endorsing it. But no one is vocally pushing back, either,” said Erick Erickson, a conservative radio host.

Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, an outspoken critic of the former President, said that Trump threatens to “hijack our great state for his own selfish agenda.”

Erickson, however, seems to think that Trump’s endorsement of Abrams and subsequent critique of Kemp won’t have that much of an impact on the outcome of the midterm elections. “It’s not a good thing, but I think the base will largely ignore it,” he said. “They don’t want Stacey.”