Obama backs Abrams, Amico

Stacey Abrams and Sarah Riggs Amico, the women topping Georgia’s Democratic ticket this fall, picked up the support of a key party figure Wednesday: former President Barack Obama.

A popular figure among Georgia Democrats, Obama also endorsed two legislative candidates competing in suburban Atlanta swing districts.

The four Georgia Democrats were part of an initial group of 81 candidates from across the country whom Obama endorsed Wednesday. His office said more endorsements were on the way as the former commander in chief prepares to campaign for Democrats in several states ahead of the midterm elections.

“I’m confident that, together, they’ll strengthen this country we love by restoring opportunity that’s broadly shared, repairing our alliances and standing in the world, and upholding our fundamental commitment to justice, fairness, responsibility, and the rule of law,” Obama said in a statement.

Abrams faces off against Republican Brian Kemp in November’s gubernatorial race, a contest that’s expected to draw record amounts of money and attention and foreshadow the 2020 presidential contest.

Most Georgia Republicans have already circled their wagons around Kemp, the current secretary of state.

Abrams, meanwhile, has secured the backing of national Democratic heavyweights, including former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, all considered potential 2020 contenders. But Obama’s backing is undoubtedly a shot in the arm for the former Georgia House minority leader.

“I am grateful for his support as I continue a campaign for governor grounded in hope, optimism and a boundless belief that we can do more to make sure every family in Georgia has the opportunity to thrive,” Abrams said Wednesday.

Amico, who said she was “honored” to receive Obama’s endorsement, faces former state Rep. Geoff Duncan in the November race to fill Georgia’s No. 2 statewide office.

Duncan’s campaign said in a statement that it hoped Obama’s support “greases the skids for Amico to get the coveted Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi endorsements” — two party leaders deeply unpopular with the GOP electorate.

Obama also backed state House candidates Matthew Wilson and Shelly Hutchinson.

Hutchinson is running for an open Gwinnett County seat being vacated by David Casas, the state’s first Hispanic Republican legislator, in a suburban swing district that tops Georgia Democrats’ 2018 target list.

Wilson is challenging freshman state Rep. Meagan Hanson, R-Brookhaven, for the purplish 80th Georgia House district, which also includes Chamblee and Sandy Springs.

Missing from Obama’s list was Democratic secretary of state nominee John Barrow, a centrist who frequently voted against Obama’s legislative priorities while serving in the U.S. House, and any of the Democrats challenging Georgia GOP incumbents in Congress.

Despite his popularity among Democrats, Obama never carried Georgia during his two general election contests. He lost the popular vote to Republican John McCain by roughly 5 percentage points in 2008, and Mitt Romney won Georgia four years later by nearly 8 points.

Kemp spokesman Ryan Mahoney said it did not surprise him that Obama backed Abrams.

“Georgians twice rejected Barack Obama’s failed policies, and this November they will reject his handpicked candidate for governor, Stacey Abrams,” he said.

In addition to endorsing Democrats, Obama’s team said the former president also plans to stay politically involved on redistricting issues this year through the Democratic Redistricting Committee. The group, led by his former attorney general Eric Holder, filed a federal lawsuit earlier this summer alleging Georgia’s 14 congressional districts violated the Voting Rights Act because they were drawn to limit the political power of black voters.