President Trump confirmed Sunday that he plans to return to Georgia on the eve of Georgia’s crucial Senate runoff to hold a “big and wonderful rally” for Republican Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue.
“On behalf of two GREAT Senators, David Perdue & Kelly Loeffler, I will be going to Georgia on Monday night, January 4th., to have a big and wonderful RALLY,” Trump tweeted. “So important for our Country that they win!”
On behalf of two GREAT Senators, @sendavidperdue & @KLoeffler, I will be going to Georgia on Monday night, January 4th., to have a big and wonderful RALLY. So important for our Country that they win!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 27, 2020
The Republican National Committee (RNC) announced it will host the “Victory Rally” at the Dalton Municipal Airport and noted that all attendees at the Dalton rally will have to undergo temperature checks, will be provided masks that “they are instructed to wear” and will have access to hand sanitizer.
The rally is scheduled to take place in a district represented by Rep-elect Marjorie Taylor Greene, a staunch ally of Trump.
The twin runoffs against Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff will determine which party will control the Senate and the fate of possibly President-elect Joe Biden’s legislative agenda before he takes office two weeks after the runoffs. The two Senate races were sent to runoffs after no candidate in either election won a majority of the vote.
If the Democratic candidates win both seats, the upper chamber will be split 50-50, with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote. Republicans need one senator to reclaim their seat in order for the GOP to retain control of the Senate.
Trump made this announcement of returning to the Peach State last week on the eve of the runoff election.
“As badly as we were treated in Georgia by the “Republican” Governor and “Republican” Secretary of State, we must have a massive victory for two great people, @KLoeffler & @sendavidperdue, on January 5th,” Trump tweeted on December 19. “I will be having a big Rally for them on Monday night, January 4th. WIN!”
As of Monday evening, over 2.1 million ballots have been cast in the Georgia Senate runoffs.
Following the twin runoff elections, if the two GOP incumbents defeat their opponents, they will rush back to the Capitol the following day for the joint legislative session of Congress counting of electoral votes.
Trump campaigned for the two Republican senators earlier this month, his first rally held post-Election after railing against both Georgia’s Republican Governor, Brian Kemp and Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger.
Both the governor and the secretary have defended the Peach State’s election process, claiming the election was legitimate and repeatedly declared that Biden won the state, citing the three recounts that found the former Vice President winning Georgia with a slim margin of just under .2% or less than 12,000 votes.
The runoff has garnered significant national attention with new filings show both Democrats each raising in more than $100 million in the last two months. Ossoff broke the record of becoming the best-funded Senate candidate of 2020 and of all time, having pulling in $106.7 million between October 15 and December 15.
According to spending filings, Ossoff spent $93.5 million during that period and had $17.4 million in cash on hand, while Warnock spent $86.1 million and had $22.7 million in cash on hand. Meanwhile, Perdue spent $57.8 million and had $16 million in cash, and Loeffler spent $48.6 million and had $21.2 million in cash on hand.
However, ad spending continues to clog Georgia airwaves. According to Kanter/CMAG, $342 million has been spent on local TV advertising in Georgia thus far in the runoff elections as of December 20th, with an additional $113 million estimated to be booked for the final days. $38 million has been spent on radio ads.
Polling averages currently show both Senate races as neck and neck, although historical trends favor the incumbent senators. According to Real Clear Politics Average, Perdue leads by 0.2 percentage points, garnishing an average of 49% from December 14- 22 to Ossoff 48.8%. Meanwhile, Loeffler is tied with Warnock at 48.8% from December 14- 22.
45GeorgiaGeorgia Senate RunoffJoe BidenJon OssoffPresident TrumpRaphael WarnockReal Clear PoliticsRNCSen. David PurdueSen. Kelly LoefflerSenateTrump RallyVictory Rally
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