Trump's clout tested as he seeks to oust Georgia's GOP governor

Kemp has remained neutral as the effort has stalled amid opposition from some business leaders and the Republican-led legislature.Ultimately, Perdue is portraying Kemp as a governor who uses his powers to benefit himself politically but refused to exercise them to help Trump and GOP voters following the 2020 election.Paula Dyer, 61, who operates an antiques store on Commerce's main drag, said she would either vote for Perdue or write in a candidate."What I’m upset with Kemp for is he did not force an audit and all of that for the votes," Dyer said. "I don’t understand how all of a sudden Georgia has been predominantly Republican and then all of a sudden we’re going to go blue, we’re Democrat — with no proof of that."President Joe Biden defeated Trump by fewer than 12,000 votes out of about 5 million cast in Georgia in 2020, but many Republican voters — even Kemp voters — say they still believe Trump was cheated."I do feel like it was rigged," said Sonya Thompson, 52, a massage therapist and artist. Some voters inside and outside the Republican Party here credit Kemp for reopening Georgia businesses, in defiance of Trump, early on in the Covid pandemic.“The primary reason I think the governor is doing well is because he’s done a good job,” said former Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss, pointing to Kemp’s handling of the pandemic, economy and crime.