Perhaps the most important surrogate for Mr. Walker is Governor Kemp, who pulled in just over 200,000 more votes than Mr. Walker to win re-election. Mr. Walker’s campaign views Mr. Kemp as an influential voice with both conservatives and moderates who may be motivated to vote for Mr. Walker. The governor has contributed staff and resources to Mr. Walker’s cause and has appeared alongside Mr. Walker at a campaign event and fund-raiser. He also cut an ad with a direct-to-camera appeal to voters on behalf of Mr. Walker.
“Herschel Walker will vote for Georgia — not be another rubber stamp for Joe Biden,” Mr. Kemp says in the ad. “That’s why I’m backing Herschel. And I hope you’ll join me in voting for him too.”
“It has been critical for Governor Kemp to put his arm around Herschel and make it a team sport,” said Ralph Reed, a Walker supporter and the founder of the Faith and Freedom Coalition. “That will be a driving message for college educated and suburban voters who might have held back before or might not have been inclined to turn out.”
Turnout, indeed, will be crucial. More than 800,000 people have cast ballots so far, according to the Georgia Secretary of State, outpacing turnout during the early-voting period of the 2018 general election. The participation surge extends across the state, including to counties that Mr. Walker won and the deep-blue metro Atlanta region.
The Democrats have called in reinforcements, too. Former President Barack Obama will campaign for Mr. Warnock in Atlanta on Thursday. The former first lady Michelle Obama has recorded a series of robocalls encouraging people to vote.
Jonathan Weisman contributed reporting.