Democrat Stacey Abrams Campaign for Governor

POOLER, Ga. (AP) – Democrat Stacey Abrams isn’t engaging her Republican rival for Georgia governor or his supporter-in-chief – President Donald Trump – as she kicks off her campaign for the general election.

The Democrat, who is seeking to become the first black woman elected a U.S. governor, focused on jobs Thursday by touring an apprenticeship program for ironworkers near Savannah. It was Abrams’ first campaign stop since Republican Brian Kemp won a Tuesday runoff to become her opponent.

Abrams avoided a question about Trump, who called her an “open border, crime loving” candidate on Twitter. Asked about taking on Kemp in November, she said: “I’m going to win that election.”

Abrams began her general campaign far from Georgia’s Democratic base in Atlanta. She said she wants to meet voters “in every part of the state.”