ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) – President-elect Joe Biden told Georgia Democrats on Monday that they had the power to “chart the course” for a generation, while President Donald Trump echoed old grievances about his loss in November in final pleadings ahead of the elections that will determine control of the United States Senate.
Trump made his last hour pitch to voters at an overnight rally in North Georgia, where Republicans counted on a strong turnout on Tuesday to re-elect Senator Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue and keep control of the chamber.
Biden campaigned with Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock in Atlanta, hoping to recreate the coalition that earned him a narrow victory in the presidential race in November.
‘Folks, this is it. This is it. It’s a new year and tomorrow could be a new day for Atlanta, Georgia and America, ”Biden said at a drive-in rally. “Unlike any other time in my career, one state – one state – can chart the course, not just for the four years, but also for the next generation.”
The stakes have drawn hundreds of millions of dollars in campaign spending into a once solid Republican state that now stands as the nation’s premier battleground. Biden won Georgia’s 16 electoral votes with about 12,000 of the 5 million votes cast in November, although Trump continues to push for false allegations of widespread fraud, even including his now former Attorney General and Republican Secretary of State of Georgia – along with a litany of state and federal judges – said did not happen.
The president’s trip on Monday comes a day after the disclosure of a remarkable phone call he made to the Georgian secretary of state last weekend. Trump pressured Republican Brad Raffensperger to “find” enough votes to reverse Georgia’s election results ahead of Wednesday’s joint session of Congress, which will certify Biden’s Electoral College victory. The call highlighted how Trump has used the campaign in Georgia to make it clear that he remains committed to Republican politics.
Angered after Raffensperger’s call, Trump came up with the idea of stepping out of the rally, but was persuaded to go ahead so that he could have the opportunity to repeat his allegations of electoral fraud. Republicans are wary of whether Trump will only focus on himself and not promote the two GOP candidates.
Trump, at a rally in Dalton, Georgia, again pressed false claims that November’s elections were “faked” and urged Republicans to “flood” polls on Tuesday.
“The Democrats are trying to steal the White House, you can’t let them,” Trump said. “You just can’t let them steal the US Senate, you can’t let it happen.”
Biden addressed Trump’s plan on Monday by declaring that “politicians cannot assert, take or seize power” by undermining legitimate elections.
Biden said he needs a majority in the Senate to pass legislation to combat the coronavirus, and he has accused Perdue and Loeffler as obstructive Trump loyalists. Loeffler says she will join other Republican lawmakers to object to the Electoral College’s certification of Biden’s victory by Congress on Wednesday.
“You have two senators who think they have sworn an oath to Donald Trump, not the US Constitution,” Biden said.
Earlier Monday, Vice President Mike Pence told a crowd of conservative Christian voters at a rally in Milner, Georgia, to stop a Democratic takeover in Washington. “We’re going to keep Georgia, and we’re going to save America,” said Pence at Rock Springs Church in Milner.
Perdue addressed the church crowd by phone as he went into quarantine for exposure to the coronavirus, claiming that “the future of our republic is at stake” and declaring the duty to vote “a calling from God.”
Republicans need only one victory to maintain control of the Senate and force Biden to contend with a divided government. Democrats need a sweep for a 50-50 split, giving the casting vote to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, who will succeed Pence as Senate President. That would give Democrats a majority in the Senate to go along with their control of the House and the executive branch.
Pence, who will chair the congressional joint meeting on Wednesday, sidestepped Trump’s denials Monday until a man called out to “do the right thing on January 6.” Pence promised that “we will have our day in Congress,” although he gave no details as to what that might mean. Numerous Republicans in Congress have pledged to protest the electoral college count, but Pence has no legal authority to override Biden’s victory.
Pence drew chants of “Four More Years!” and “Stop stealing!” of the church meeting.
Faced with those passions from the Republican base, Perdue, whose first senatorial term ended Sunday, and Loeffler, an appointee senator trying to win her first election, have run like unabashed Trump Republicans and the two-month runoff blitz warning of a “radical” and “dangerous” swings to the left.
Ossoff and Warnock have responded with warnings that a Republican Senate will obstruct Biden’s government, especially over pandemic aid.
Warnock opposed the deluge of Loeffler television commercials that labeled him a socialist. “Have you noticed she hasn’t even bothered to make a case, Georgia, why keep her in that chair?” Warnock said, speaking before Biden. “That’s because she doesn’t have a case.”
Certainly, a closely-divided Senate – with the rules still requiring 60 votes to enact big bills – diminishes the prospects for sweeping legislation, regardless. But a democratic senate would at least assure Biden of an easier path for top officials, including judges, and a legitimate consideration of his legislative agenda. A Senate led by McConnell would almost certainly deny even an up-or-down vote on Biden’s most ambitious plans.
More than 3 million Georgians have already voted. Monday’s pressure is aimed at getting voters to the polls on Tuesday. Democrats earned a wide margin under the 3.6 million early votes in the fall, but Republicans responded with a surge in election day, especially in small towns and rural areas.
Even with Biden’s statewide victory, Perdue Ossoff led with 88,000 votes in November, giving the GOP confidence in the second round. The run-offs were required because none of the candidates obtained a majority vote as required by Georgian law. Despite Perdue’s initial advantage, early voting figures suggest Democrats have had a stronger turnout towards Tuesday, and prominent Republicans have expressed concern about the pressure their turnout operation is exerting.
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Amy reported from Milner, Georgia. Associated Press writers Kevin Freking in Dalton, Georgia and Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed to this report.