Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Georgia, Herschel Walker, is lowering expectations ahead of his debate with incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga) next month, telling a news outlet that he’s a “country boy” who is “not that smart”.
“Talking to the voters, talking to you. You told me I gotta prepare, so I’m preparin’,” Walker told . “I’m this country boy, you know, I’m not that smart. And he’s that preacher. He’s a smart man, wears these nice suits. So he going to show up there, embarrass me at the debate, October the 14th. And I’m just waiting, you know, I’ll show up and I’m [going to] do my best.”
After months of disagreement between the two campaigns over the debate format, Walker finally agreed to a televised debate on Oct. 14 in Savannah, Ga.
It is in Walker’s best interest to set expectations so low that the mere fact that he showed up would be considered a win. Walker has made several policy gaffes and statements since he announced he was running for Senate, such as saying there are 52 states, claiming that “bad air” floated from China to replace our “good air, and telling a reporter that “what I like to do is see it and everything and stuff,” when asked about gun control legislation.
Walker has also been mired in several controversies involving his businesses, academic and personal life. As such, his public appearances has been sparse and interviews limited to friendly right-wing outlets.
Walker’s campaign once again attempted to clean up his comments to Savannah Morning News, by saying he was being sarcastic.
“It is a sad day when so many people in politics and the media don’t understand sarcasm. Herschel has been traveling across Georgia for over a year meeting the people and listening to their concerns,” Walker’s campaign spokesperson Will Kiley said in a statement to The Hill. “Herschel is going to be ready on October 14 in Savannah to debate Raphael Warnock, who has to stand there and explain his horrendous voting record to the people.”
A Quinnipiac University poll released last Wednesday showed Warnock leading Walker by six percentage points.
