ATLANTA — As he took the debate stage at the J.W. Marriott in Savannah, U.S. Senate hopeful Herschel Walker knew he had to deliver.
Just 10 days earlier, an ex-girlfriend accused Walker — falsely, he claimed — of paying her to have an abortion. On the campaign trail, his gaffes and rambling statements had even some fellow Republicans fretting he might not be up to the job. And his opponent, Democratic incumbent Raphael Warnock, was a seasoned orator with two elections under his belt.
But amid the turmoil, Walker stayed focused, aides said.
