In Georgia race, Democrats look to minorities to close gap

ATLANTA — The national Democratic Party wants reinforcements for a closely watched congressional election in Georgia, helping pay for 10 new field workers to reach more minority voters in the traditionally conservative Atlanta suburbs.

The move shows the party’s delicate balancing act as it tries to score a major upset ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, when Democrats will try to use widespread opposition to President Donald Trump to dent Republicans’ monopoly control of Washington.

Democrat Jon Ossoff has made a keen effort t o woo moderates a nd independents who could decide his fate against Republican Karen Handel. But his party’s latest move reflects a simultaneous emphasis on traditionally Democratic voting blocs that have largely been an afterthought in a district held by Republicans since 1979.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez said Thursday that non-white voters “will be at the heart of Jon Ossoff’s victory,” but he added that Democrats want to “talk to every single voter in this district.”