Atlanta - 4 December 2019

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Gov. Brian Kemp, (R) Georgia:

"Today, I'm proud to announce that conservative businesswoman and political outsider Kelly Loeffler will be Georgia's next U.S. senator."

2. Kelly Loeffler

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Gov. Brian Kemp, (R) Georgia:

"Kelly has really lived the American dream, and I'm confident that she will work every single day to keep that dream alive for our children, grandchildren and for the generations of Georgians and Americans to come."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Kelly Loeffler, (R) Georgia:

"I'm not a career politician or even someone who's run for office. I've spent the last 25 years building businesses, taking risks and creating jobs. I haven't spent my life trying to get to Washington. So here's what folks are going to find out about me. I'm a lifelong conservative, pro-Second Amendment, pro-Trump, pro-military and pro-wall."

5. Cutaway of Loeffler at podium

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus127615

Georgia's Republican governor has chosen a wealthy businesswoman and political newcomer to fill an upcoming vacancy in the U.S. Senate, flouting President Donald Trump's preferred candidate in a play for moderate suburban voters.

Gov. Brian Kemp formally announced his selection of Kelly Loeffler on Wednesday, pushing aside intense criticism from hard-core Trump advocates who wanted Kemp to appoint Rep. Doug Collins, one of Trump's staunchest defenders in Congress.

Kemp and Loeffler moved quickly to extinguish the rebellion from the right, pitching the little-known candidate as a Trump supporter and emphasizing her rural roots.

Loeffler's supporters believe she can widen the Republican tent and appeal to women and suburban Atlanta voters, who have fled the party since Trump's election.

Her critics counter that an experienced campaigner with conservative credentials is needed to bring out the Republican base.