ATLANTA (AP) — A top Republican candidate in Georgia's U.S. Senate race is dismissing one of his opponents for not having a college degree as he touts his own experiences as a businessman.

Former Dollar General CEO David Perdue said during a January meeting captured on video that "there's a high school graduate in this race, OK? I'm sorry but these issues are so much broader, so complex" as he talked about the economy and the federal deficit. The video was first reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Former Secretary of State Karen Handel doesn't have a college degree, something she talked about when she ran for governor in 2010. Handel's campaign manager called Perdue's comments demeaning and said Handel has shown "great perseverance and sheer will" in overcoming the challenges of her youth.