The final days of Georgia’s Republican primary campaigns have exposed internal party fault lines, produced unusual alliances, and will test the party’s ability to consolidate quickly to match Democrats’ head start on the general election campaign.

Divisions Emerge

Rep. Mike Collins and former football coach Derek Dooley are competing for the party’s nomination for U.S. Senate, while Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and billionaire businessman Rick Jackson are running for governor. President Donald Trump and outgoing Gov. Brian Kemp are aligned behind Jones but split in the Senate race.

Top grassroots organizers are divided too. Even Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, a former rival to Trump, stepped into the mix on Jackson’s behalf, putting him at odds with the president and governor.

Debbie Dooley, an original national tea party organizer, noted that erstwhile tea party leaders in the state aren’t on the same page anymore either. While she’s campaigning with Derek Dooley, the founder of Tea Party Patriots, Jenny Beth Martin, has appeared with Collins.

Complicated Relationships

Kemp’s and Trump’s differing courses highlight their complicated relationship — Kemp certified President Joe Biden’s electors in 2020 over Trump’s objections — and the results Tuesday will test both men’s internal party influence as their final terms play out.

Kemp insisted there is a common denominator. “Everything I’m doing is to win in November,” he said Monday after campaigning for Jones and Derek Dooley at separate events in metro Atlanta.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.