COLUMBUS, Ga. — Georgia Republicans are holding their annual convention this weekend in a state where their presidential candidate wants to rebound from his loss in 2020.
It’s an official gathering, but it didn’t take long for the Georgia Republican convention to become a graphic homage to Donald Trump. The party, some of whose members seemed ready to move on from Trump after he arguably ignited a riot at the U.S. capitol in 2021, can’t wait to embrace him in 2024.
"The American people have a strong sense of what’s fair and unfair. I think what's happening to Donald Trump (in court) is outside the norm, breaking a lot of barriers, for America," said Georgia GOP chairman Josh McKoon. "I think that’s rallying a lot of people to his side."
Trump spoke at last year’s Georgia convention – weeks before his indictment in Fulton County on election interference charges. This year, Trump’s absence won’t impact the love he’ll get from Georgia delegates.
"He’s here in spirit, because there's very strong support for Trump within the state of Georgia," said Reggie Liparoto, a Columbus Republican on the ballot for the GOP nomination in the second congressional district. "So, even though he’s not here, he’s here."
So happens Democratic president Joe Biden will actually appear in Atlanta this weekend to give the commencement address to Morehouse College graduates.
"I understand why he keeps coming, but I think all it does is remind people of how bad we have it," McKoon said.
The Marjorie Taylor Greene merch table was a political spectacle at Georgia’s Republican convention, with red 8-by-10 photos for $30 and black shirts boasting of MTG as the “enemy of the state.” It was provocative merch from the convention’s featured speaker, due at a weekend breakfast.
Trump also had a substantial merch table at this convention – from oil paintings to hats with hair included.
Republican Gov. Brian Kemp is not on the schedule. Neither is Donald Trump, though he spoke at this convention a year ago. Many of Trump’s backers here still believe, with no plausible evidence, that he won last time.
"If it’s done legally and properly, Trump will win by a landslide. If it’s corrupt like it was last time, who knows? I think he’ll still win," said James Burton, a Heard County Republican.
Republicans feel like they’ve rebounded in Georgia. After Democrat Stacey Abrams (48.3%) came close to beating Brian Kemp (50.2%) in 2018 and two Republican U.S. senators lost their seats in 2020, all but one Republican running statewide in 2022 won their races.