3 things to know about U.S. Senate debate: Walker's prep, Warnock's record and abortion stances

Georgians anticipated many stunning moments during Friday’s U.S. Senate debate, with Sen. Raphael Warnock’s polished oratory skills and Herschel Walker’s history of bizarre statements and personal challenges.

Instead of an hour’s worth of uncomfortable moments, though, Warnock and Walker delivered a fast-paced, highly engaging political exchange that reset the race just days ahead of the start of early voting on Oct. 17.

Recap: Abortion, inflation dominate in Georgia U.S. Senate debate

In his first-ever candidate debate, Walker avoided the gaffes that have come to define his campaign, staying on point and on message throughout. Meanwhile, Warnock was his unflappable self, sticking largely to policy positions and calmly parrying well-aimed thrusts at his job performance - and that of his party and President Joe Biden - in two years as a U.S. senator.

With less than four weeks until Election Day on Nov. 8, the debate underscored the value of pre-election discourse between opponents. 

Here's what you need to know about the debate and what it could mean for Georgia's U.S. Senate seat.

Walker defends background, stands up for Trump

Before the debate, during a September visit to the Georgia Ports Authority, Walker referred to himself  as “just a country boy” who is “not that smart.” 

While that comment may have appeared to some as a political miscalculation, Walker doubled down Friday on framing the debate as the good ol’ country boy vs. the D.C. political elite.

In that way, Walker emulated the 2016 strategy of the man who asked him to run for the U.S. Senate in the first place, former President Donald Trump. 

Walker, like Trump, has angled himself as a non-politician, giving straight answers to the same yes or no questions that Warnock dodged around. Walker never outright said “I’m not a politician,” but he didn’t have to. He just had to make sure Warnock looked like one.

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Showdown in Savannah: Warnock, Walker clash on issues of economy, abortion and more in only debate

During his response to multiple questions, Walker attempted to tie Warnock to Biden, whose dismal approval ratings extend across political boundaries. But even Warnock was hesitant to endorse Biden’s job performance: when asked if he would support a Biden re-election run in 2024, he didn’t answer the question, saying the people of Georgia “didn’t hire him to be a pundit.”

Walker on the other hand, gave a hearty “yes” when asked if he would support a Trump bid in 2024.

Perhaps the biggest flub of the night for Walker came when Warnock accused him of pretending to be a police officer. Walker's response was to pull out a badge and tell the cameras “it’s real." 

Walker holds the title of “honorary deputy” in Cobb County, which has no arrest powers or authority — it’s purely honorary. But he pulled the badge out, which was a breach of debate rules, and he was scolded by WSAV anchor Tina Tyus-Shaw for using the prop.

Warnock refuses to run from his record

Warnock may be running against Walker, but he’s running from his party’s leader, Biden, and negative public sentiment about the president.

Walker repeatedly made references to Warnock’s voting record, which reflects significant support for Biden’s agenda.

Walker also frequently highlighted the struggles the country has faced since Democrats won the White House and control of the Senate in the 2020 election. Walker centered his challenges on the economy and inflation but also made mention of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the deadly attack on U.S. Marines at the Kabul airport and Democratic Party policies on criminal justice reform.

Attempting to paint Warnock as a Beltway insider, Walker said: “Sen. Warnock went to Washington but forgot about Georgia.”

Warnock offered a memorable rejoinder: “My opponent would be rather be running against anybody except me. There are only two people who are going to sit in this seat, either me or my opponent. This race is about who is ready to represent Georgia.”

Warnock highlighted his bipartisan legislative work on issues such as maternal mortality and highway infrastructure as well as his success in securing a cap on insulin costs in the Inflation Reduction Act.

On abortion, Walker clarifies, Warnock avoids

Perhaps the most heated exchange of the debate involved abortion. Both candidates were pressed on the subject. 

For Walker, the focus was on recent reports that he paid a past girlfriend to get an abortion and urged her to have a second. For Warnock, the attention was on a clip where he was shown saying “even God gave us a choice” in relation to abortion.

Walker continued to deny claims that he'd paid for an abortion, repeating that the allegations are “a lie.” He said he is “not backing down.” 

“Georgia is a state that respects life,” Walker said about his strong stance against abortion.

Asked to elaborate on his “God gave us a choice” comment, Warnock called it “self-explanatory.”

Walker is a self-proclaimed "pro-choice pastor" and pointed to his service, saying “I’m a man of faith and I have a profound reverence for life and a deep respect for choice.”

As far as abortion limitations, Walker said he supports Georgia’s fetal heartbeat law, which bans abortions after six weeks and makes exceptions for rape and incest so long as a police report is filed. The bill also allows for later abortions when the pregnancy threatens the life of the mother or a medical condition renders the fetus unviable.

Previously, Walker has said he backed a ban on abortions with no exceptions. He also voiced support for a federal ban at 15 weeks.

Warnock avoided addressing the details of his abortion stance.

“I stand where I've said I stand in the past, that a patient's room is too small and narrow and cramped a space for a woman, her doctor, and the United States government. We are witnessing right now what happens when politicians, most of them men, pile into the patients' room.”