Atlanta’s iconic tavern marks Georgia’s past with an eye on future as midterms approach

It’s TV debate time at Manuel’s Tavern, an Atlanta landmark that has hosted Democratic heavyweights for six decades, and the patrons are glued to the screens as Georgia’s incumbent Senator Jon Ossoff trades barbs with his Republican challenger, Mike Collins, in the second and final debate before the November 3 midterms. The Republican contender this time is more biting and sharp after his lacklustre performance in the first debate. But the crowd here appears unimpressed. Between sips of beer and bites of burgers, they follow the political slugfest impassively. This is a Democratic watering hole, and their candidate, Ossoff, is leading in the polls. They’re also familiar with their senator’s special talent for getting under the skin of his opponents. At Manuel’s Tavern, they appear to know how the show will unfold. Patrons at Atlanta's Manuel's Tavern watch the October 13, 2026 TV debate between Senator Jon Ossoff and Republican challenger Mike Collins. © Leela Jacinto, FRANCE 24 Collins starts the debate with an opening salvo. “This is a race between Georgia and Georgetown,” he declares, referring to the historic Washington DC neighbourhood of Georgetown in a dig at Ossoff’s much-r...