Republican Senator David Perdue's campaign ridiculed his Democratic runoff opponent Jon Ossoff—who ordered from a vegan restaurant in Atlanta—by posting a photo of Perdue with plates of bacon.
Perdue's campaign team trolled Ossoff with a photo of the Senator and his wife inside what appeared to be a Waffle House and tweeted:
"[Jon Ossoff] can have the plant burger, we'll take the all-star special. Pick your side, Georgia."
.@ossoff can have the plant burger, we'll take the all-star special. Pick your side, Georgia.… https://t.co/FDQBwk7SpP— Team Perdue (@Team Perdue) 1606594339.0
The Republican hopeful's breakfast selection was in reference to an option on the menu of restaurant chain, and corporate giant, the Waffle House.
Meanwhile, Ossoff supported "Slutty Vegan"—a small Black-owned vegan eatery as part of his Small Business tour on Saturday.
CNN Politics reporter DJ Judd tweeted:
"Back in Atlanta, Democratic candidate for Senate Jon Ossoff kicks off a Small Business Saturday tour with a stop at Slutty Vegan, a vegan burger joint."
"'We got Jon Jon running for Senate in the building!' a staffer calls out as Ossoff enters, prompting cheers."
Back in Atlanta, Democratic candidate for Senate Jon Ossoff kicks off a Small Business Saturday tour with a stop at… https://t.co/9A2g3miRDD— DJ Judd (@DJ Judd) 1606584449.0
Meat-eaters who felt isolated over Ossoff's vegan-centric tour criticized him online.
@DJJudd Beta.— PGQue 🇺🇸 (@PGQue 🇺🇸) 1606602916.0
@DJJudd Georgia becoming a California colony— Lucius Sulla (@Lucius Sulla) 1606590500.0
@DJJudd this is embarrassing— Jersey Atlanta (@Jersey Atlanta) 1606590578.0
However, plenty of people supported the 33-year-old Democrat for his endorsement of small businesses.
@DJJudd Slutty Vegan are fast food restaurants owned by Clark Atlanta University Alumni and #DeltaSigmaTheta… https://t.co/xvKFvmGvpt— Nicole SA (@Nicole SA) 1606597715.0
@DJJudd That food is so good and no animals died to enjoy it.— Andye (@Andye) 1606615896.0
@DJJudd And he’s getting it to go, the right and safe way to support a local restaurant.— SusanB 🔥 (@SusanB 🔥) 1606666917.0
Others slammed Perdue for his petty campaigning tactic—straight from the GOP playbook—in mocking his Democratic opponent.
@TeamPerdue @ossoff Cool story, bro. Is it fun dunking on @SluttyVeganATL ,a thriving Black female owned business,… https://t.co/6buOrpc8Rc— QONDI 💛 🐝 🇺🇸🇿🇦🇿🇼 (@QONDI 💛 🐝 🇺🇸🇿🇦🇿🇼) 1606608652.0
@TeamPerdue @ossoff Such a stupid thing to post, Perdue— Frank (@Frank) 1606632332.0
@TeamPerdue @ossoff I’d imagine that most Georgians prefer the candidate who DOESN’T mock local small businesses, D… https://t.co/ZIdLo2ZihY— Kendall Brown (@Kendall Brown) 1606596884.0
One Twitter user mentioned the Senator's corruption for his involvement in the 2020 Congressional insider trading scandal.
@TeamPerdue @ossoff You slumming to prove you’re in touch? Most Waffle House patrons don’t get to trade illegally for profit.— Ghost of 1918 (@Ghost of 1918) 1606595276.0
@TeamPerdue @ossoff I actually respect the vegan that supports small businesses, doesn't gloat at gluttony, and wea… https://t.co/q0xYji0314— Ꭰҽղąҽ 🐝 𝓑𝓾𝓽𝓽𝓲𝓰𝓲𝓮𝓰𝓲𝓪𝓷 🍷 (@Ꭰҽղąҽ 🐝 𝓑𝓾𝓽𝓽𝓲𝓰𝓲𝓮𝓰𝓲𝓪𝓷 🍷) 1606613188.0
@TeamPerdue @ossoff Perdue is terrified to debate Jon Ossoff...instead resorting to insulting a small business’s pr… https://t.co/YLFhVGzanH— REDACTED Human Scum/hand washer/mask wearer (@REDACTED Human Scum/hand washer/mask wearer) 1606602757.0
Tensions in the Georgia Senate runoffs have ramped up after the swing state flipped blue for the first time since 1992 in the 2020 presidential election.
Perdue's campaign team was under further scrutiny and called out for being hypocritical for throwing shade at Slutty Vegan after the Republican Senator called small businesses "the backbone of our economy" back in August.