President Trump hinted at opening new doors for the Republican candidate who loses Georgia’s heated Senate special election.
The top two GOP candidates, Sen. Kelly Loeffler and Rep. Doug Collins, are neck and neck in the polls. Quinnipiac’s September poll showed the two at 23% and 22%, respectively.
Despite his initial dissatisfaction with the pick, Trump lauded Kelly, whom Gov. Brian Kemp picked to replace Sen. Johnny Isakson, who retired for health reasons, during his Friday rally in Georgia.
“She can handle pressure. She has been fantastic,” Trump said. “She’s a great woman, and her husband is a great man. … Kelly Loeffler. Great job, Kelly. Great job. My only problem is she’s running against another great guy.”
“I just said, ‘Run it out,'” Trump continued. “I’m backing both of them because Doug Collins is here. Where’s Doug? Boy, am I in a lousy position. I like them both. I love them both.”
Since Loeffler and Collins are running in a special election, there are no primaries for either party — every candidate runs on the same ticket. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two candidates face off in a January runoff.
But Trump suggested that whichever Republican loses the race will have opportunities beyond the Senate.
“You know what I like?” Trump asked. “They’re both going to the polls, they’re gonna bring their people with them, and you know who the biggest winner’s gonna be? Trump. Because everybody that votes for both of them is gonna vote for me. But honestly, regardless of what happens, they’re both going to be winners because whoever doesn’t officially win is gonna have an unbelievable future, and I’m going to make sure of it because these are two incredible people.”
