Both of the Georgia Senate races are looking “very positive” for the Republicans, in part because the GOP and President Trump have put a big focus on retaining the seats, according to the party’s top Republican organizer.
Republican Indiana Sen. Todd Young, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, also was upbeat about keeping up with Democrats in absentee voting, typically something the party lags on.
“The initial signs are very positive,” said Young of the races of Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler.
“I have to commend the president for going down to Georgia. He said multiple times that the people of Georgia should get out there, as disappointed as they may be about the presidential race, and vote for David and Kelly. It is really important for him to drive that message, but what’s also important is he emphasized the importance of voting early and voting absentee if eligible,” he told members of the centrist Republican Ripon Society this week.
The races are key to the GOP keeping control of the Senate. In addition to Trump, Vice President Mike Pence has made the Georgia races a focus of his attention.
A poll provided to Secrets Friday from AARP showed that the race is tight. Democrat Jon Ossoff is edging Perdue (48%-46%); Democrat Raphael Warnock leads Loeffler (47%-46%). Among voters 50 and older, the Republicans are comfortably ahead.
The special elections, called because neither candidate passed the required 50% in the election earlier this month, have been in turmoil because of GOP and Trump claims of fraud in the prior election.
But despite those claims, and the focus on concerns in mail-in voting, Young said that the GOP is holding its own in absentee voting.
“Democrats traditionally surpass Republicans when it comes to absentee voting, but they’re only outclassing us by a few points right now. We are way ahead of schedule on absentee voting, and we’re also doing well with respect to voter contacts,” he said.
