GOP Senate campaign deletes post invoking rape accusation to mock rival's strategist

Rep. Mike Collins' (R-GA) Senate campaign deleted a shocking attack posted Friday after invoking former NBC anchor Matt Lauer to mock an adviser to his runoff rival — a reference critics say weaponized one of the most painful chapters of the adviser's wife's life.

Luke Thompson, a strategist for the PAC of Collins' runoff rival Derek Dooley, reposted new polling information on X, showing a significant tightening of the race, with Collins leading Dooley 46-41.

"48 hours later and the Collins lead has cut in half," said Thompson. "Dooley beats [Democratic Sen. Jon] Ossoff. Collins can't. Not hard to understand."

In a now-deleted post, the Mike Collins War Room campaign account replied, "Matt Laurer's [sic] sloppy seconds chiming in to take an L."

The post, noted Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Greg Bluestein, is a reference to the fact that Thompson's wife accused Lauer of sexually assaulting her and then tried to take her own life. Lauer went on to be forced out of the network after a long list of women came forward detailing his alleged predatory behavior.

The Georgia GOP Senate primary has faced mounting tension. Dooley, a former football coach, has the endorsement of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, but Trump was reportedly unhappy that Kemp made the move without consulting him. Trump is expected to endorse Collins, who has cast himself as a die-hard foot soldier for the president and the MAGA movement.