Biden’s power in the balance as Georgia votes in key senate races
Voters in the US state of Georgia are set to decide the balance of power in the US Congress in a pair of high-stakes Senate run off elections that will help determine Joe Biden's capacity to enact what may be the most progressive governing agenda in generations.
Republicans are unified against the president- elect's plans for healthcare, environ mental protection and civil rights, but some fear that outgoing president Donald Trump's brazen attempts to undermine the integrity of the nation's voting systems may discourage voters in the state.
At a rally in north-west Georgia on Monday evening, Mr Trump repeatedly claimed the November elections were plagued by fraud that Republican officials, including his former attorney general and Georgia's elections chief, say did not occur.
The president called Georgia's Republican secretary of state “crazy” and vowed to help defeat him in two years. At the same time, Mr Trump encouraged his supporters to show up in force for yesterday’ contests.
"You' ve got to swarm it tomorrow,” he told thousands of cheering supporters, downplaying the threat of fraud.
And several hundred Trump supporters gathered on the steps of the Pennsylvania Capitol yesterday morning where speakers railed against what they characterised as a “stolen election,” echoing the president’s baseless claims.
“Your vote was taken away by Governor[ Tom] Wolf, your vote was taken away by the courts, your vote was taken away by locale lections boards. You have been disenfranchised,” said state represntastive Russ Diamond, one of 17 state House lawmakers who signed a letter claiming the presidential election results were “in error.” He cited the baseless argument that there were more than 200,000 votes cast than there were voters. Supporters waved Trump flags and signs that read “It’s Not Over” and #Stopthesteal”
Democrats must win both of the state's Senate elections to
gain the Senate majority. The Senate would be equally divided 50-50, with vice presidentelect Kamala Harris serving as the tie-breaker for Democrats.
Democrats secured an arrow House of Representatives majority and the White House during November's election.
Even a closely divided Democratic Senate is not likely to guarantee Mr Bid en everything he wants, given Senate rules that require 60 votes to
move most major legislation.
But if Democrats lose even one of Tuesday's contests, he would have little scope for his most ambitious plans to expand government-backed health care coverage, strengthen the middle class, address racial inequality and combat climate change.
A Republican-controlled Senate also would create a rougher path for Mr Biden's cabinet picks and judicial
nominees .“Georgia, the whole nation is looking to you. The power is literally in your hands,” Mr Biden said at his own rally in Atlanta earlier on Monday. "One state can chart the course, not just for the next four years, but for the next generation."
Georgia' s January elections aree necessary because no Senate candidates won a majority of the general election votes.