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The senate runoff campaign turned ugly when Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock's Republican opponent, Herschel Walker, made claims attacking Warnock's family.
Warnock and Walker are facing off on December 6, since neither of the Georgia candidates reached the state's required 50% of the vote in the general election.
The Junior Senator from Georgia–who is also the lead pastor at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church–said Walker "crossed a line" when he suggested his opponent was a negligent father, making the ridiculous claim Warnock “didn’t keep his own kids.”
\u201cIt\u2019s getting more and more embarrassing https://t.co/sKDWMrpQMg\u201d— ernest ripepi (@ernest ripepi) 1668700632
Warnock clapped back in an interview, saying that the topic of family during the campaign was off-limits.
“I know that politics is ugly. People play all kinds of games, unfortunately."
"But Herschel Walker and his allies have crossed a line where my family is concerned."
“I want to set the record straight: My children live with me."
"I am present with my children in every way that a father should be, from breakfast in the morning to bedtime prayers at night. I can’t continue to let him lie about our family.”
Walker's negative comments about the incumbent Senator stems from a Republican attack on Warnock over the custody battle with his ex-wife and claims that he uses campaign funds to cover his childcare costs.
However, Politico noted that the Federal Election Commission allows candidates to use campaign funds to pay for childcare while they’re on the campaign trail, "as supported by members of both parties."
Walker said of the Democratic candidate:
“Why don’t he keep his own kids? Don’t have nobody keep your kids. You keep your kids."
"And he’s got somebody else keep – I keep my own even though he lied about me. It’s okay. It’s okay because he’s trying to get your vote.”
\u201cGeorgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker (R) criticizes Sen. Raphael Warnock's (D) parenting:\n\n"He paid himself for childcare, all that stuff \u2014 why don't he keep his own kids? Don't have nobody keep your kids. ... I keep my own, even though he lied about me."\u201d— The Recount (@The Recount) 1668449712
\u201c@therecount How does someone listen to that nonsense and think \u201cwow, he would make a great senator\u201d?\u201d— The Recount (@The Recount) 1668449712
In response, Warnock called out the hypocrisy in Walker's statement by hinting at the Republican candidate's own family scandals.
During the campaign trail in the last few months, Walker–who was personally endorsed by former Republican President Donald Trump–faced scrutiny after a number of women came forward alleging they were forced by Walker to have abortions.
Recently, Walker denied an allegation from an ex-girlfriend who claimed he sent a $700 check to pay for her abortion back in 2009.
Twitter users were quick to point out Walker wasn't exactly a parental role model.
\u201cHerschel Walker, of All People, Claims Raphael Warnock Doesn't 'Keep His Own Kids' https://t.co/lh6BS6p0BV\u201d— Jezebel (@Jezebel) 1668531785
\u201c@therecount Really? Walker is going to talk about taking care of his children? That's where he wants to go?\u201d— The Recount (@The Recount) 1668449712
\u201cWalker\u2014known for pressuring two former partners to have abortions and not seeing one of his four confirmed kids in many years\u2014inexplicably chose to attack Warnock for his parenting.\nThis is how Stupid Herschel Walker is \n#Georgia #Christian #Republican \n https://t.co/SOD4TuPzbW\u201d— P CADFAEL (@P CADFAEL) 1668558486
\u201c@therecount Come again? How many children did Hershel acknowledge and admit to having? He keeps his "own kids" while being an FBI agent, a police officer, a pro-wrestler, God's calling, and the Republicans' token?\u201d— The Recount (@The Recount) 1668449712
\u201c@therecount I don't think this is coming out the way he thinks it is. \n\nPaying for someone else to look after their kids while they're working isn't the same as fathering multiple kids with multiple partners and forgetting about them.\u201d— The Recount (@The Recount) 1668449712
\u201c@therecount I challenge Herschel Walker to name all his kids on national TV. \n\nI\u2019ll even give him time to prep.\u201d— The Recount (@The Recount) 1668449712
\u201c@therecount @HerschelWalker Correct.\nWarnock is paying for CHILD. CARE.\n\nNot CHILD. SUPPORT.\n\nBecause Warnock is actually IN his childrens' lives, not paying for his absence from them.\u201d— The Recount (@The Recount) 1668449712
One Twitter user shared a post from Christian Walker–Walker's son with his first wife Cindy DeAngelis Grossman–who has lashed out against his father's dishonesty and hypocrisy in numerous social media posts, one of which can be seen, here.
\u201c@therecount I will just leave this right here https://t.co/V3V1isaJR5\u201d— The Recount (@The Recount) 1668449712
“To say that he lacks self-awareness is an understatement," said Warnock of his opponent.
"We have only learned about most of his children during this race. There are two men in this campaign."
"One has been missing in action for his family–and that person is not me.”
Warnock made it clear his children were important to him and that he continues to be inspired by them.
“My children are the two brightest stars in my universe–my reason for just about everything I do."
"They are in my care. And they lack for nothing.”