Embattled Ga. GOPers go for boost

Georgia’s embattled Republican senators Tuesday both backed raising the the coronavirus stimulus payments to $2,000, effectively flip-flopping from the GOP’s previous stance opposing a bigger relief plan.

After first dodging questions about the stimulus checks, Sen. Kelly Loeffler came out in favor of the bigger checks in a tweet, highlighting President Trump’s support for $2,000 payments.

David Perdue, the state’s other GOP senator, also put out an almost identically worded tweet saying he’s also backs the larger relief measure.

“I support this push for $2000 in direct relief,” Perdue tweeted.

Loeffler, a billionaire Republican whose husband is CEO of the company that owns the New York Stock Exchange, wouldn’t give a straight answer when a Fox News host asked her if she backs the plan for bigger checks pushed by an unusual alliance of Trump and Democrats. “I’ve stood by the president 100% of the time,” Loeffler said on “Fox & Friends,” Trump’s favorite news show. “Absolutely we need to get relief to Americans now, and I will support that.”

Perdue’s Democratic challenger, Jon Ossoff, pounced on Loeffler’s word salad, accusing her of talking out of both sides of her mouth.

“$600 is a joke,” Ossoff countered on CNN. “The Senate needs to pass the $2,000 and get this help to the people.”

The political drama comes with just a week to go before Georgia votes in a historic double-barreled Senate runoff election on Jan. 5. Democrats would grab control of the Senate if they can flip both seats now held by Loeffler and Perdue.

Polls suggest both races are very tight and will likely hinge on turnout of the parties’ strongest supporters.

Early voting statistics show turnout is very heavy with 2.34 million votes already cast as of Tuesday, running above the records set before the Nov. 3 general election.

Democrats are heartened by the fact that turnout has been especially strong in the party’s strongholds in Atlanta and surrounding suburbs. The lowest turnouts are in rural areas that backed Trump and other Republicans.

That dynamic would force Loeffler and Perdue to come up with much stronger support from voters casting ballots in person next Tuesday.

The lackluster Republican turnout may also reflect internal divisions that could cause GOP voters to stay home.

Trump put Loeffler and Perdue in a tricky political position by demanding the increased stimulus checks.

The two conservative incumbents had backed the $900 billion compromise COVID relief plan that included only smaller $600 direct payments to Americans.

Ossoff and fellow Democratic insurgent the Rev. Raphael Warnock have both called for a much larger stimulus package. Analysts say Loeffler and Perdue are in a tough spot — they want to keep their #MAGA base happy without looking like they are flip-flopping on their previous fiscally conservative stand.

Trump’s push to overturn his own loss in the presidential election has also been divisive for Georgia Republicans.