North Gwinnett News

A new poll shows that Georgia's incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp has expanded his lead over top GOP challenger David Perdue so much that if the race were held today, he would avoid a runoff challenge.

Pollsters peg Kemp's support at 54%, 16 points ahead of Perdue, who registers at 38%, according to Fox 5 News. Behind them are Dr. Kandiss Taylor at 4%, and Catherine Davis and Tom Williams at 1%. Two percent of people surveyed were either undecided or had no opinion.

"Perdue has been badly outspent in the race," InsiderAdvantage Chairman, Matt Towery, told Fox 5 News. "That shows in a question we asked as to how enthusiastic voters are about their choice. Fifty-five percent of those who chose Kemp were enthusiastic about their choice. Thirty-seven percent who said they were voting for Perdue said they were enthusiastic about voting for him."

The candidates recently faced off in their third and final televised debate, where Kemp provided his best performance of the primary season, according to the news station.

"This survey was conducted up to and including the night of the most recent Atlanta Press Club debate," Towery said. "Given that the debate had all the excitement of a tax audit, it is extremely unlikely that it impacted numbers in any meaningful way."

The Republican primary is set for May 24 with the winner facing Democrat Stacey Abrams in the November general election in what's shaping up to be a rematch of her 2018 battle for the governor’s seat, Fox 5 News reported. Kemp was victorious in 2018 and hopes to win again in 2022.