‘This shows unity’: Ossoff and Bottoms hold joint rally in heart of downtown Atlanta

Former Atlanta Mayor and current Democratic candidate for Georgia Governor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff held a rally at The Tabernacle on Sunday afternoon. This is the first joint rally by Bottoms and Ossoff. 

The pair of Democratic politicians with Atlanta ties is looking ahead to the November elections, but decided the time was right to take the stage together. With five months till Election Day on November 3, the Democratic Party had two of its largest names on the same playbill. This rally can be seen as a way to unite the party on the eve of elections for statewide offices such as governor, senator, lieutenant governor, attorney general, labor commissioner, and secretary of state.

When Bottoms took the stage, chants of “Keshia, Keshia” filled the room.

“People across Georgia have made it clear, we want to elect leaders who will fight for us,” Bottoms said moments after being introduced by her daughter, Lincoln Lance Bottoms. “This White House is making life for Georgians more stressful.”

Bottoms spoke about voters focussing on the top and bottom of the ballot. “Georgia, the power is in our hands.”

She said she was asked which of her opponents, Burt Jones or Rick Jackson, she rather go up against in November and Bottoms’ answer was simple: “They are one in the same,” she said. Bottoms called Jones and Jackson, “Trump’s do boys.”

Dr. Jamal Bryant, the senior pastor at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, introduced Ossoff to the stage. “Georgia is America’s promise to do better,” Bryant said.

“We need him because America needs him,” Bryant said of Ossoff. “America is waiting to see will Georgia do the right thing.”

Upon taking the stage, Ossoff received an equally as loud applause.

“Atlanta, something is happening in Georgia,” Ossoff said. “Many of you are here because you recognize the importance of this election.”

Ossoff mentioned that United States President Donald Trump has spent the weekend complaining on social media and suing the government. “His administration is crumbling,” Ossoff said. “He’s trying to put his face on the money. Did you see that? He’s doing these things now because no one will honor him when he’s gone because he’s a failed president and a national disgrace.”

“This is the most corrupt administration of all time and everybody knows it,” Ossoff said.

The first-term Senator spent more time attacking the president’s war in Iraq than he did his potential opponents in November, Mike Collins and Derek Dooley. Nearly a half-hour into his speech, he mentioned his opponents. “It doesn’t matter which of them wins, we’ll beat both in November,” said Ossoff.

The Daleys posed for a selfie and found their spot on the dance floor. The couple, engaged Democrats both, made their way downtown to support party politics.

“This shows unity and that we’re together. No matter if you like one candidate or the other,” said Dr. Jacki Daley.

“During the last election that lack of unity was used against us. This shows unity. This is the real deal,” said her husband, Dewane Daley.

With Georgia once again a battleground state, even in a non-presidential election year, having that amount of star power on stage is sure to get people’s attention in Washington, D.C. and beyond. 

Nicollette Canty arrived with a friend and even though she didn’t vote for Bottoms during the primary election, she was in fill support of her guberantorial campaign now. 

“Because of the state of our nation right now, and the way that everything is so partisan, it’s important to rally everyone together right now,” Canty said. “I don’t like the way our nation and our state is going, so it will be good to have Democrats in office.”  

Bottoms won the Democratic nod in an election night landslide, and the momentum from that victory, mixed with Ossoff’s popularity among Democratic voters, may put immense pressure on the Georgia GOP as the party looks to have voters select a candidate on primary runoff day, Tuesday, June 16. 

For some supporters, despite the unification, there are apparent sides that they are on. Gloria Ward, flashing a bright smile and wearing a white “Kesiha Lance Bottoms Governor” t-shirt, turned to pose for a photo. She wanted to make sure the focus was on her t-shirt and the candidate she was there to support. 

“I think it’s a great idea to rally up the base,” she said. “This will let them know that we are here and we’re together and working to make Georgia better.”

Yvonne Hill and Sheri Goodwyn came to the rally together and they were sitting together. Unity was their theme for the day and this rally was a symbol of what needs to continue to take place through November, Hill said.

“We have to pull together, especially as Black people,” said Hill as she waved her “Keisha” campaign sign. “Now is not the time to stay home.”

Goodwyn agreed. “As Democrats, this is a sign of everybody pulling together. That’s what we need.”

Moments before any speakers took the stage, the DJ played “Swag Surf,” an Atlanta anthem that cannot be left off of any playlists at sporting events. As fans rocked side to side and waved campaign signs, the feeling was reminiscent of the energetic campaign rallies for Ossoff’s first campaign, Senator Raphael Warnock’s first campaign, the first gubernatorial campaign for Stacey Abrams, and more recently, the presidential campaign for former United States Vice President Kamala Harris. Some of those campaigns were successful, while others fell short of their ultimate goal. Time will tell how the Bottoms and Ossoff campaigns end up.

The post ‘This shows unity’: Ossoff and Bottoms hold joint rally in heart of downtown Atlanta appeared first on The Atlanta Voice.