AreaRead the video transcript expand here
"You will be Herschel today."
It is a bizarre ritual that provides the highlight of this evening: the slight man with gray hair is supposed to stand for Herschel Walker, the Senate candidate for the US state of Georgia.
The group wants to send strength and energy to the absent Republican.
“We prophesy that Georgia will have a resurrection! Amen! To Herschel Walker - Hallelujah!'
About 25 miles to the east, in neighboring County Fulton.
The Oak Tavern is much quieter.
Over beer and snacks, the Democrats will discuss the party's position after the midterm elections on November 8th - and what's next.
But instead of heavenly help, earthly help is advertised here:
“I don't do surveys, I don't knock on doors anymore, I just can't do it – but: I drive people. For those of us who are... you know, too old for it or don't have the energy for it anymore, we can ride the ones we have."
At the midterms in Georgia, Republican Herschel Walker and Democrat Raphael Warnock went head-to-head.
On December 6th, an ex-football star...
Herschel Walker, US Republican
"I didn't come here to lose."
...and a pastor
Raphael Warnock, US Democrat
“God bless you all.
And good morning."
...in the runoff for the last open Senate seat.
For the first time in US history, two African Americans are fighting for the Senate seat in Georgia's congressional elections.
In the suburbs of the capital Atlanta it will be decided whether the Democrat or the Republican will win: Cobb County and Fulton County will be particularly important in the run-offs.
We visited two very different locations here.
In the small church in Smyrna, north Atlanta, Pastor Parrett Smith and his wife Andrea welcome guests from Texas and Virginia.
The representatives of the right-wing conservative group The America Project have come especially to drive the election campaign among like-minded people in Georgia - with fundamentally Christian pathos and obviously a lot of anger:
Bianca Garcia, The America Project, Texas
“We have a message for the people of Georgia.
We urgently need your voice.
You must vote to protect our faith and our freedom.
We fight for our constitutional rights.
We fight for people like me: I am a homeschooling mother.
I want to be able to continue homeschooling - so as not to pump my kids full of an agenda I don't agree with."
Leon Benjamin, Virginia pastor
“We wanted to bring the church, pastors and faith leaders together to gather the fellowship to stand behind our principles and stand up for what is right.”
Herschel Walker is not known for his intact family life.
The former football star has four children by four women.
Two ex-partners accuse him of pushing them to have abortions - while he publicly presents himself as a strict opponent of abortion.
Apparently not a big issue for his supporters here.
Andrea Smith, Pastor
“When people say there wasn't this and that, he didn't have… You know, God is a forgiving God.
Redemption is still there.
And Herschel was forgiven.
I know a lot of people who have had abortions - and they've been forgiven.
So why not Herschel?'
Walker himself refers to the grace of God even in his campaign videos.
Commercial Herschel Walker
»By the grace of God I have overcome my problem.
Warnock is a preacher who doesn't tell the truth.
He doesn't even believe in salvation.
I'm Herschel Walker.
Saved by grace.«
Raphael Warnock and his team have long relied on the calm and approachable demeanor of their candidate.
Just the nice neighborhood pastor in that election commercial—he refrained from making allegations against Walker.
Now the tactic seems to be changing.
Raphael Warnock Commercial
»You'd think Herschel Walker would explain what he's up to in the Senate if he were actually representing Georgia.
Instead, he keeps repeating the same lies to distract from the obvious truth about him.”
At the Democrat base in the Oak Tavern, the Trump-backed candidate is being dished out even more clearly.
Dontaya Carter, Chairman North Fulton Democrats
“A lot of people still believe in the candidates that Donald Trump is backing.
It's up to us to stand up as people who value others.
Because that's what it comes down to in the end, it's about values.
It's not about nominating a candidate just to nominate a candidate.
Herschel Walker's candidacy is, with all due respect, one of the most disrespectful things you can do to the people of Georgia."
Lucky for the Democrats: Despite Trump support, Walker is also unpopular and unelected by many Republicans due to his past – that's what the campaigners here in Fulton County are counting on.
"We need to get the grassroots onto the streets and those who weren't happy with the Republican offer -- they need to get back to voting."
Reporter
"Need a new tactic to reach these voters?"
“We definitely need a new tactic, I'm not quite sure what that's supposed to be. Trying to have conversations with people often reveals how torn Georgia is and how angry everyone is.”
The mood at the rally in Smyrna has become increasingly angry.
The fight against so-called evil is becoming increasingly radical:
Leon Benjamin, Pastor
»Their children are homosexuals, their daughters are lesbians.
And you're telling me we're not in a deep valley?
We have more abortions than anywhere else in the world.
We are in a deep valley!«
Parrett Smith, Pastor
“We are waging a spiritual war.
These topics that we are talking about here: These are the same topics that I preach in my church.«
Armed with the sword of alleged righteousness, contempt for human beings is proclaimed here.
Even the younger participants share the enthusiasm.
An attempt at an explanation:
Jackeline Nwangi, Participant
“If you don't know the culture, it might feel like we're violent and hateful.
But we are not.
We stand for values found in Scripture.
We don't want to kill babies, and we don't want an anti-reproduction agenda.
›LGBTQ-S‹: there is ›satanic‹ involved.«
Crude ideas get a lot of space here.
Allegedly, according to the organizers, a divine portal is opening up over Atlanta.
The timing: the run-offs.
Parrett Smith, Pastor
“We're taking back Cobb County.
In Jesus' name, hallelujah."
Community
»We're taking back Cobb County.«
At least in Cobb County, the mantra should release the forces for a turnaround.
Because the once arch-conservative county has had a majority of Democrats since 2016.
Back to the Democrats in Roswell - the next steps to defend
Fulton County
are discussed.
The state of Georgia no longer tips the scales for the US Senate, and yet: a victory on December 6th/in the runoff election is the top priority for the Democrats - for very pragmatic reasons.
"You know, even if the Democrats control the Senate, this race still matters because having 51 representatives is better than 50, isn't it?"
