“A Battle”: Georgia GOP Gov Debate “Was Even More Ruthless Than Expected” As “Tensions Run High”

"A Battle": Georgia GOP Gov Debate "Was Even More Ruthless Than Expected" As "Tensions Run High"

The reviews are in - and the Georgia GOP's first and only gov debate "was even more ruthless than expected," "brimmed with personal attacks and appeals to President Donald Trump's followers," and explosive "charges of backroom dealing" and "campaign coercion." Rick Jackson - who has often skipped public events and stumbled in interviews - "struggled through parts of the hourlong showdown" while Burt Jones was accused by multiple candidates of personal corruption. Most devastating, both Jones and Jackson charged the other with personally abusing taxpayer money to enrich themselves - attacks that will haunt whoever emerges as the Republican nominee.

Check out what Georgians are reading about the debate today:

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Attack ads explode into real life in Georgia GOP governor debate

• You had to know the first and likely last debate featuring Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and billionaire healthcare executive Rick Jackson would be brutal.

• After all, the two Republicans have spent more than $80 million battering each other on the airwaves. But Monday's Atlanta Press Club debate was even more ruthless than expected.

• Jackson struggled through parts of the hourlong showdown, facing attacks not only from Jones but from other rivals eager to puncture his outsider image.

• Jones faced sharp accusations of his own. Jackson accused him of demanding six-figure donations from lawmakers and using his influence to scuttle legislation from anyone who backed his rivals.

• Meanwhile, Carr and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger cast the Jones-Jackson feud as a stifling grudge match and argued Republicans need another option.

WSB: Tensions run high as Georgia gubernatorial candidates battle it out in televised debate

• Burt Jones and Rick Jackson have spent millions battling it out in campaign ads.

• On Monday, they got to battle it out face-to-face - and it was a battle.

• "He's been spending millions of dollars telling lies about me. But even worse, he's been spending millions of dollars telling lies to the public about himself," Jones said about Jackson.

• "Burt Jones just feels like he can make up his own rules and do whatever he wants to do," Jackson shot back.

• Jackson and Jones exchanged accusations as the other Republican candidates tried to break through, especially Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Attorney General Chris Carr.

Capitol Beat: Republicans for Georgia governor finally face each other in debate as voters head to polls

• The only major debate between Republican candidates for Georgia governor brimmed with personal attacks and appeals to President Donald Trump's followers and offered less to guide voters on policy directions.

• The two leading candidates, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and businessman Rick Jackson, pummeled each other over their campaign fundraising and personal ethics. Other candidates piled on.

• Jones and Jackson praised Trump, as did Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

• Jones and Jackson have burned through millions of dollars lobbing attack advertisements at each other. Yasger asked Jones how he could possibly relate to normal people after spending that kind of money like that.

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