ATLANTA — The political battle over the Peach State intensified Saturday afternoon as President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump campaigned in Georgia simultaneously at dueling rallies.
Both campaigns are making a turning point in their races as Biden and Trump turn their attention to pivotal states -- with Georgia being one of them.
Biden campaigned in Atlanta at Pullman Yards, while Trump was in United States Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's district of Rome, Georgia -- about 70 miles northwest of the city -- where he spoke to supporters.
11Alive's Karys Belger was in Atlanta, and 11Alive's Tresia Bowles was in Rome. They were at both rallies all day and broke down the highlights and what message each likely presidential candidate aimed to get across to their respective voters on Saturday.
Highlights from Joe Biden's campaign stop in Atlanta
President Joe Biden, joined by several Democratic elected officials, made a fervent appeal at Pullman Yards in Atlanta, discussing key priorities of his campaign.
The rally, following the State of the Union address, marked the beginning of a series of stops for the President as he seeks another term in office. The event drew a packed room of supporters, including everyday voters like Tina Metcalfe, who expressed strong support for the Biden-Harris administration.
"We need to keep Biden and Harris in office because I think they are the best choice," Metcalfe said.
Prominent political voices also lent their support, emphasizing the importance of unity in re-electing President Biden.
"It was inspiring to see all of us coming together, to put aside our differences and to do what's best in electing Joe Biden to be, for four more years," said Representative Sam Park.
President Biden addressed various topics, including immigration, taking opportunities to criticize former President Donald Trump.
"Donald Trump calls them vermin. Poison the blood in a poison in the blood of America. No one should ever doubt where my heart is," President Biden stated.
The event aimed to bring together diverse demographics of voters, including Asian, Latino, Black, and LGBTQ communities, emphasizing the significance of coalition-building for success in the November election.
President Biden's impassioned remarks at Pullman Yards are expected to carry momentum into his upcoming campaign stops and potentially into a second term.
Watch Biden's full speech:
Highlights from Donald Trump's campaign stop in Rome
Former President Donald J. Trump held a rally in Rome on Saturday.
The event happened at almost the exact same time as President Joe Biden's rally in Atlanta.
The Forum River Center holds nearly 4,000. The center was full of supporters.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene said the Republican Party was already confident ahead of Trump's sweep on Super Tuesday.
"All of us always knew President Trump was the primary winner, was going to be the presidential primary candidate," Taylor-Greene said. "Nikki Hailey was never a threat. She was really a nuisance."
Taylor-Greene said Rome is her hometown. It's in Floyd County, which voted largely Republican in the 2020 election.
Supports, like Brandon Wilhoit, are hoping to turn Georgia back red for the 2024 Election.
"If we can get the young people to vote and just get more people to vote in general, then I think that's what will turn Georgia around," Wilhoit said.
Georgia voted blue for the first time in 2020 since 1992. Rep. Mike Collins said to prevent a repeat, supporters have to treat elections like a season instead of a day.
"Republicans have always been very traditional. We like to vote on Tuesday. So, we've got to get out of that mode," Collins said.
Supporters tell 11Alive their main motivation is border security.
"I had the safest border in the history of our country," Trump said during his speech, "Now, we have the best border in the history of our world."
Trump pointed out Jose Ibarra--the man arrested for Athens nursing student Laken Riley's murder, as an example.
"He was an illegal immigrant. He's an illegal migrant." Trump said. "And he shouldn't have been in our country and he never would have been under the Trump policy."
Trump said he met with Riley's parents backstage and promised to get justice for her murder.
Throughout the speech, Trump took jabs at President Biden, calling him "grossly incompetent."
"He's a threat to democracy," Trump said.
Trump also criticized Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and claimed that a woman is suing him.
Trump mentioned that he'd end the Israel-Hamas War, support police, keep critical race theory out of schools, and stop the transgender community from participating in cisgender sports.
He made it clear that Georgia's vote will be pivotal to his presidency. It's why supporter Lisa Adams drove from Dalton.
"Everybody's looking to us," Adams said. "We're the last stand to freedom. We need Trump back in office."
Watch Trump's full speech:
