ATLANTA — About midway through his speech in Atlanta’s northern exurbs, former Vice President Mike Pence brought up an issue that’s both a point of pride for Gov. Brian Kemp and a reminder of a break with his former boss that could shape the 2024 race.
“Let me be very clear about this: Georgia was not one of the first states to reopen its economy and end the shutdowns,” he said, pausing slightly for effect. “Georgia was the first state in America to open up again.”
As the crowd cheered, Pence’s maneuver wasn’t lost on senior Republicans. Kemp’s decision to lift economic restrictions early in the pandemic wasn’t just criticized by Stacey Abrams and other Democrats. Then-President Donald Trump also excoriated Kemp for the move.
