RINCON — Local enthusiasm for Secretary of State Brian Kemp’s gubernatorial campaign has grown to the point that a room picked to host a Friday campaign rally wasn’t big enough.

An overflow crowd of supporters moved from El Real’s back room to the main dining area to greet Kemp’s Putting Georgia First bus. It was loaded with Kemp's wife, Marty, and daughters.

The candidate was unable to make the stop because of a Thursday night debate in Atlanta with Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle. The secretary of state caught up with his family later in the day in the day in Statesboro.

Kemp’s bus tour featured 37 cities in one week.

Rincon Mayor Ken Lee was the opening speaker at El Real.

“We are glad that all you supporters of Brian Kemp, the next governor of the state of Georgia, are here to support him this morning,” he said. “... We have a good group of folks, some of them from Effingham County and some from Chatham County, and we are glad to have you hear supporting Brian.”

Lee said Kemp backers should be bouyed by the results of the debate, which was a rough-and-tumble event that reflected the tightness and testiness of the race. The rivals are neck and neck in the polls.

“I think he made a great impact on the voters of this state last night,” he said. “I think we will continue to see the results of that.”

The Republican runoff is July 24.

See the July 18 edition of the Effingham Herald for more details.