We'll get to some some of that Georgia specific stuff. But first I want to transition into talking about the shooting at the rally in Pennsylvania this weekend Where were you when when you heard the news and I guess what was your immediate reaction?

We were actually had been traveling Let's see we had been Actually at a at a public event Representative buddy Carter and myself were both on a public stage You know Saturday morning down on the coast of Georgia, Marty, our first lady, and my wife, and one of our daughters were there with us. A big, big crowd, 100 -year celebration of the Causeway going from Brunswick, Georgia over to St. Simon's Island. That was just a great celebration. Then we were traveling back to Athens to get ready to come to the convention when all of that started. So we were in the kind of in the middle of unpacking the car, getting in. And then, you know, we heard something happen in the rally and started watching the TV. What was your immediate reaction to it? Well, I mean, look, first, the first thing before I really knew any details was just it was a sad day for the country, regardless of who it was that this has happened to, who it was getting shot at. There's just no place for that in our politics and our country. And it's very disturbing for people that were there. And then obviously, knowing the details now, the loss of life, our thoughts and prayers certainly go out to that family. A guy that was an everyday hero, was a volunteer firefighter, literally died an American hero protecting his family. You had two other people that were injured that are still recovering. And then by the grace of God, Donald Trump is here. And because it could have been just within a couple of inches of him not being here. I would hate to think what we'd be going through right now in our country, if that had happened. So I'm very grateful in spite of the tragic events that he survived. And I think it's a great opportunity for the country, for politicians, for people in the media, and really all Americans to say, look, you know, regardless of what side of the political aisle we're on, regardless of, you know, where we are on policy, you know, we need to be respectful of one another. We need to get back to the days of having, you know, civil discourse in our politics and not trying to demonize the other side. It's fine to go after people on issues and politics is a tough business. You know, and it's a slight tackle football, you know, it's a contact sport and you're gonna have some of that. But there's ways to do that in a proper way without inciting violence and really bad things happening. I

mean, do you feel like this could be a wake up call for a lot of Americans? I think over the last few days, we've seen maybe that isn't the case. And are you worried that it's gonna get worse?

Well, I think it certainly could be. Do I think it's gonna just like immediately change? I don't. I mean, I think, I mean, look, we have been through a really tough time in this country when you think, and I know, like I've been in the middle of the circular fire and squad, not literally, but figuratively with, you know, people in my own party mad at me, the other side mad at me, the national media on me, the local media on me. And so I understand a little bit about this, but it has been a polarizing time in our country for a lot of reasons. of them is, you know, the pandemic coming out of the pandemic, the pandemic politics, the personalities that we've had running in politics. And that that can be on both sides of the aisle. So, I mean, I think there's an opportunity to kind of reset, if you will, a little bit. But also we got to keep in mind, we have a presidential race going on and it is a real fight and both sides are gonna fight and, you know, we just need to do that in the right kind of way. And, you know, hopefully we'll see that.

Yeah. I mean, do you think the Trump and Biden campaigns need to adjust how they talk about their opponents? Obviously, you know, you talked about that fight, they have to figure out how to talk about the other person, but -

I think they will. And I think they'll try to. But also think, you know, people like me, you know, political junkies and, you know, the base of the parties on the right and the left, a lot of people that are here at the convention. Well, yeah, people that will be at the convention in Chicago and then the media like we have to we have to have a little grace you know I mean if somebody's saying in the cross hairs or it's gonna be a bloodbath you know we really need to make sure we understand the context they're talking about and if somebody makes a slip of the tongue that may be appropriate sometimes but wouldn't be after a shooting, like we need to be forgiving of that. And if they do it two or three times in a row and continue to double down, you know, then call them out. But I think we just need to be mindful that at the end of the day, we're all Americans, you know, we're all fighting for the betterment of our country. And that's really what the next four or five months is going to be like.

And I guess on that point Senator Vance said that the rhetoric from the Biden campaign quote directly led to the shooting. He talked about President Biden on a call with donors and what he said. Do you agree with that assessment? Is that kind of talk helpful? I wouldn't know.

Well you know I personally don't think I would have made that comment. I think you can look at a lot of things that have been said on the other side that has really upset and maybe made the rhetoric where people really had a hatred for Donald Trump. Yeah. Of course, I think you could probably look for instances of that on the right on the Democrats. And I think this is where it's an opportunity. You know, I don't know. I just feel like people out there are really craving a workhorse, not a show horse. And I think it's an opportunity for Republicans to really show people we're going to be work horses. And this is the policy that's going to get us there to do that and I Believe that would move the people in the middle that you need to need you need to win states like Georgia states like Wisconsin You know, Michigan, Pennsylvania Nevada and you know, the Virginia, North Carolinas of the world in dire column Yeah,

you know, I mean president Trump's team has talked about His tone and that it's changing. He said himself that he ripped up his his speech and it's gonna be more conciliatory Then he immediately started talking about January 6th again. I've been and and so I guess do you think that for him that the Conciliatory different tone the unity tone can actually last You've had some tussles with him over the years.

Well, I think I mean one thing about Donald Trump, you don't have to really worry about what he's thinking or you know where he is on a lot of things. I mean, he's gonna tell people that a lot of people really like him because he is a fighter. He's fought hard for his position. I think a lot of people out there feel like you know he was fighting for them when maybe other other people wouldn't and I I mean I have that feeling in a lot of ways myself. When I was running for reelection, I was telling people the end of every bus tour stop, who's been fighting for you over the last three years? Who was fighting to get your kids back in the classroom after the pandemic? Who was fighting to get your business opened up? You know who is fighting to keep your community safe out there? And I think that's what people want. That being said, I do think it's a great opportunity for the former president in his speech really to reach a segment of people that maybe not have liked him all that much, just by tone alone, being statesmanly and having really a lot of grace and thanks for what he survived over the weekend.