The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Walker continues to take hits from rivals in U.S. Senate race
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Herschel Walker is so confident he’s going to win Tuesday’s primary — thanks to strong numbers in both polling and fundraising — that he’s ready to party.
He’s invited the five other contenders in the GOP contest to be his guests for a “unity celebration.”
But they’re not prepared yet to play nice.
Former Navy SEAL Latham Saddler and Air Force veteran Kelvin King have upped their criticism of Walker over his refusal to participate in debates and forums.
Saddler has slammed Walker in a new television ad for dodging public appearances with other Republican candidates.
“If Herschel Walker won’t debate me, he will lose to (Democratic U.S. Sen.) Raphael Warnock,” Saddler says in the ad.
But Gary Black, the state’s outgoing agriculture commissioner, has delivered the hardest hits on the former football star, many of them focusing on Walker’s history of violence.
Black is no longer just opposing Walker in the primary. If Walker gets the nomination, Black says he won’t support him in November.
“He hasn’t earned my vote,” Black said, citing a history of allegations that Walker threatened women.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that an ex-girlfriend of Walker’s told police in 2012 that when she tried to end what she said was a long romantic relationship, he threatened to “blow her head off ” and then kill himself.
CNN uncovered a police report from a Texas woman, who had been a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, who told authorities in 2002 that Walker had threatened and stalked her.
Walker’s ex-wife, Cindy Grossman, obtained a protective order in 2005 after alleging that he had threatened to shoot her in the head.
Walker’s campaign has cited his candor about his past, including a 2008 memoir that highlighted his struggle with mental illness.
While Walker largely has chosen to ignore his GOP rivals, saying he doesn’t want to give them any free publicity, his campaign issued a rare, and tough, response to Black’s comments.
“Gary’s ego continues to get in the way of good judgment, but we’re focused on beating Warnock,” a Walker official said. “It’s a sad ending to a solid career.”