|
"I am here today because Stacey Abrams cares
about the things that matter," Winfrey told a cheering crowd at
a Cobb County town hall, citing Abrams' stance on environmental
protection, healthcare and gun control.
Winfrey, who said she is a registered independent, has long
championed Democratic Party causes and some fans earlier this
year tried to encourage her to run against Republican President
Donald Trump in 2020.
"I don't want to run, OK?" Winfrey told the crowd. "I'm not
trying to test any waters, don't want to go in those waters."
Winfrey also is to appear alongside Abrams at a second town hall
later on Thursday in DeKalb County.
Winfrey, 64, endorsed Democrat Barack Obama before his 2008
White House run, and campaigned for the two-term president.
The contentious gubernatorial race between Abrams, a former
leader in the state House of Representatives, and her Republican
opponent, Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp, has been marred
by accusations of voter suppression.
Last month, former voting rights advocacy groups sued Kemp,
whose role makes him Georgia's top election official, accusing
the Republican of placing voter registrations on hold to boost
his campaign.
Former U.S. President and Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter asked
Kemp to resign his position as Georgia's secretary of state,
saying his role in state government imperiled popular confidence
in the election.
Trump is due in the state on Sunday for a rally supporting
Republican candidates including Kemp.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery; editing by Scott Malone, Jonathan
Oatis and Bill Trott)
[© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2017 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
 |
|
