SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — Democratic candidate for Governor Keisha Lance Bottoms is bringing her campaign to Southeast Georgia this week as part of a three-day tour focused on rural health care and Medicaid expansion.
The former Atlanta mayor is making stops in several communities across the region, where she plans to meet with health care workers, veterans and local residents ahead of the general election.
Bottoms begins the tour Wednesday in Statesboro with a roundtable discussion featuring nurses and other health care professionals. Her campaign says the conversation will center on expanding Medicaid and strengthening support for rural hospitals.
Later Wednesday, Bottoms will travel to Jesup for another health care roundtable before ending the day with a community meet-and-greet.
The tour continues Thursday with campaign events in Woodbine and Brunswick before wrapping up Friday with a veterans roundtable in Richmond Hill.
Political analysts say campaign visits like these can be especially important in Coastal Georgia, where candidates have opportunities to connect directly with voters in a politically competitive region.
“Coastal Georgia is extremely important statewide,” said Dr. Geoff Bowden, associate professor and coordinator of political science at Savannah State University. “There is pretty much a lockdown in a lot of other parts of the state. We’re a little more diverse and interesting, I think, electorally than other parts of the state. She’s got to get those people out to vote. One of the ways that you do that is you generate enthusiasm. And one of the ways that you generate enthusiasm is you show up.”
Bottoms secured the Democratic nomination for governor with more than 56% of the vote. Her campaign says the Southeast Georgia swing is part of a broader effort to meet voters in communities across the state before the general election.
WSAV will be following Bottoms’ campaign stops throughout the day and will provide updates on-air and online as the tour continues.
Source: wsav.com