ATLANTA – Georgia Agriculture Commissioner and U.S. Senate candidate Gary Black’s campaign began running a radio ad statewide Tuesday highlighting his recent trip to the U.S.-Mexico border.
Black’s ad criticized Republican opponent Herschel Walker – who has been endorsed by former president Donald Trump – for what Black’s campaign called Walker’s pro-amnesty, pro-citizenship position on illegal immigration.
“Herschel Walker sides with [President Joe] Biden and [Sen. Raphael] Warnock – Herschel supports amnesty – and citizenship for illegals,” Black, also a Republican, said in the ad. “That makes America less safe. I stood on the border — and on border security — you know where I stand.”
Walker’s campaign responded by declaring Walker backed Trump’s position on the importance of securing the U.S.-Mexico border.
“America is a nation of immigrants, and Herschel strongly supports those who follow the process to legally enter this country,” said Walker campaign spokesperson Mallory Blount. “He has several dear friends who have done so. We have a humanitarian and illegal immigration crisis at our southern border that career politicians have created.
“When you have a leak, you fix it. Any conversations about immigration have to start with finally securing our southern border and Herschel will work to make that happen, unlike our current senators.”
Last week, Warnock – the Democrat Walker, Black and two other Republicans want to unseat — reported his campaign raised more than $9.5 million during third quarter of this year in a report filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Earlier this month, Walker reported raising $3.7 million during the first five weeks of his campaign. Contributions came from nearly 50,000 donors from all 50 states.
Black raised more than $1.3 million through Sept. 30, according to his third-quarter campaign finance report.
This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.