US Democrats aim to ‘Make Trump Furious’ in Georgia election
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga: For US President Donald Trump, an off-year congressional election yesterday in the reliably Republican northern suburbs of Atlanta could spell trouble if Democratic upstart Jon Ossoff pulls off a surprise victory.
A 30-year- old political novice, Ossoff is running as the lone Democrat against a field of 17 Republicans for a seat in the US House of Representatives vacated when Trump named Tom Price to be secretary of health and human services.
The outcome will not tip the balance of power in the Republican- controlled House. But an Ossoff win could weaken Trump’s already shaky hold on his fellow Republicans in the House by encouraging those in competitive districts to distance themselves from the president.
Ossoff faces formidable odds. Georgia’s 6th District has elected Republicans to the House since the late 1970s. Trump won the Southern state by about 5 percentage points in November’s election.
Still, opinion polls show Ossoff leading his many rivals. With the slogan: “Make Trump Furious,” he aims to galvanise opposition to a president who is struggling with low approval ratings.
“We have an amazing chance here, an extraordinary moment for Georgia,” Ossoff told campaign volunteers as they headed out for a fi nal round of door-knocking on Monday afternoon.
Ossoff raised a stunning US$ 8.3 million in the fi rst three months of 2017, forcing Republicans to spend heavily against him. Those in the race are split among Trump supporters and candidates trying to hold the president at arm’s length.
Since he defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton last year, Trump and the Republicans have had control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. But they have yet to enact major legislation to fulfi ll campaign promises.
The president’s approval rating has not topped 50 per cent since he took office on Jan 20, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling.
Trump, a businessman and TV celebrity elected without having previously held political office, has attacked Ossoff on Twitter, calling him a ‘super Liberal Democrat’ who would ‘ protect criminals, allow illegal immigration and raise taxes’.
Ossoff is aiming to win an outright majority yesterday’s vote, a ‘ jungle primary’ with all 18 candidates from both parties on the same ballot.
If no one reaches 50 per cent, the top two vote-getters square off on June 20. – Reuters