Stacey Abrams, the Democratic candidate for governor of Georgia, on Wednesday denied that her argument about voter suppression is becoming harder to make given the massive early voter turnout in the state.
"Voter suppression is not negated by voter turnout. It is overwhelmed by voter turnout," she told CNN.
"Voter suppression makes very little sense to those who've never faced it," Abrams said. "When you've had your right-to-vote challenged, when you've been told that you are inadequate as a citizen, then you understand what voter suppression is – but for those for whom it has always been easy, they will not necessarily have a visceral understanding."
She continued, "But you talk to someone who has stood in line for four and a half hours to cast a ballot, only to be told that they are not on the rolls. You talk to someone who faced a voter challenge by a White right-wing supremacist group that has decided to challenge you because of your race, and you now have to prove your right to vote... then you will understand it."
With less than a week away from Election Day, Abrams took some time on her campaign bus to discuss a range of issues between stops in McDonough and Riverdale.
Abrams has faced persistent criticism from conservative media for comments she made during the final debate Sunday with her Republican opponent, incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp.
"I don't have 107 sheriffs who want to be able to take Black people off the streets, who want to be able to go without accountability. I don't believe every Sheriff wants that," Abrams said in response to Kemp continually touting his law enforcement endorsements.
Asked if she misspoke, Abrams stood by her debate comments, "I very clearly said that we need to have public safety and accountability in the state of Georgia."
As to whether she had received support from Black Democratic sheriffs or reform-minded sheriffs in the state, Abrams said she had but did not feel the need to validate her campaign by putting out a list of names.
Though there has been consternation among some Democratic strategists that Republicans nationwide will run up their numbers, including among Black men, Abrams swatted away that concern, suggesting there has been no real evidence beyond singular anecdotes.
"I am deeply saddened that they [Black men] have become the most recent target of misinformation campaigns," she said.
"But what I'm so proud of is that Black men are showing up, they are voting in record numbers, and they are voting for their families. They're voting for themselves, and they're voting for their futures. And we will see those votes, I believe, turn into victories in November," Abrams added.