BRASELTON, Ga. — Five Republican candidates for U.S. Senate showed up for the Ninth District Republican Party Debate Saturday but former UGA and NFL star Herschel Walker was again a no show.

Walker, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, made it clear last month that he would not debate his Republican opponents. A recent poll conducted by Emerson College Polling/ The Hill shows Walker with a 57 percent lead over his rivals.

Former Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, former Congressman Josh Clark, Kelvin King, Brigadier Gen. Jonathan McColumn, and Navy Seal Nathan Saddler took turns attacking Walker for what Saddler called the Biden basement strategy.

“I thought he [Herschel] was a competitor,” Saddler said. “He’s hiding out; he’s doing the Biden basement strategy.”

Black said. “I’m certain that every coach that he had in the past instructed him that you will not play in the game if you don’t show up to practice. These coaches now have him locked in the basement of the locker room.”

On the Ukraine issue, King said the U.S. must project strength globally. “When we pulled out of Afghanistan, essentially with out tail tucked between our legs, left equipment and 13 dead soldiers, Putin saw an opportunity and China is watching to determine whether or not they’re going to jump on Taiwan.”

Saddler said Russia’s move into Ukraine was not surprising. “Put yourself in Putin’s shoes,” he said. Biden’s deterrence failed. “Watching America operate the last year, he witnessed a ruling party in this country that seems to hate it. He witnessed a U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. step up on the world stage and tell the world that America is a racist country. He saw our top leaders at the Pentagon say our top priorities are CRT and climate change. He saw us tuck tail in Afghanistan. He saw us throw away our energy independence and we’re surprised Putin made a move.”

On the legitimacy of the 2020 election, strongly stated the election was stolen. “Trump won and we lost because of ballot harvesting,” said Clark. “I warned against it. I know what happens when you mail our millions of applications. We will have ballot harvesting.” Clark drew what sounded like the loudest applause of the night when he said, “We need an amendment that only allows citizens to vote and I will do that.”

McColumn agreed. “There is more than enough evidence that something took place that was ominous. But he cautioned against Republicans making this a hill to die on in the 2002 election, “Warnock is ready to use this and will use this and it will be a losing battle,” he said. Lets move forward and win this election.”

The results of the post-debate straw poll:

• 51.8% Gary Black
• 23.2% Josh Clark
• 11.4% Latham Saddler
• 7.7% Kelvin King
• 5.3% Herschel Walker
• 0.6% Jonathan McColumn