Democrat eyes anti-Trump upset in high-stakes Georgia race
WASHINGTON: Voters in Georgia will decide the most expensive US congressional race ever Tuesday, a US$ 60million political brawl where a Democratic novice could score an upset in a conservative stronghold and strike a blow against Donald Trump’s presidency.
The most recent polls show the race — seen as a key indicator for next year’s mid-term elections — virtually deadlocked as both candidates sprinted to the fi nish.
Republicans are facing a sobering reminder of their president’s poor approval ratings, as 30-year- old centrist Democrat Jon Ossoff, a fi lmmaker and onetime political assistant, clings to the narrowest of leads.
“It’s a neck and neck race, and it’s all about turnout now,” Ossoff told WSB television Monday. “That’s why we’re so focused on get out the vote” operations.
With Democrats potentially striking the first blow against Trump in 2017, the race has drawn substantial national attention — and vast outside contributions to both candidates.
Ossoff and his Republican rival, the former Georgia secretary of state Karen Handel, spent the weekend and Monday crisscrossing the southern state’s sixth congressional district as the race went down to the wire.
Despite Trump’s low approval ratings the president expressed support for Handel, 55, in multiple social media posts Monday.
“Big day tomorrow in Georgia and South Carolina,” Trump tweeted, referring to a second state which is holding a special congressional election Tuesday.
Ossoff “wants to raise taxes and kill healthcare,” Trump added. “On Tuesday, #VoteKarenHandel.”
Ossoff is trying to flip the suburban Atlanta district that Republican Tom Price left to become Trump’s health secretary.
The Democrat won the first round against several candidates in April, but fell just shy of outright victory.
The June 20 runoff quickly became the most expensive US House race in history, with the campaigns, political action committees and other outside groups raising nearly US$ 60 million, according to government reform and ethics group Issue One.
Ossoff has unleashed a massive ground operation reportedly consisting of 12,000 door-knocking, call-making volunteers. The two campaigns and political groups have bombarded Atlanta airwaves with election advertising. — AFP