Trump, Loeffler Rally Ahead Of Crucial GA Senate Election
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DALTON, GA — President Donald Trump visted Dalton Monday night to campaign before Tuesday's runoff election, which he said was "one of the most important elections in our country."
Much as President-elect Joe Biden has said at a Democratic rally earlier in the day, Trump said a win for his party is a must.
"Our country is depending on you, the whole world is watching Georgia," Trump said. "We got to swamp them cause everyone is depending on you. Together we’re going to defeat the Democrat extremists and deliver a thundering victory."
The Republican National Committee-hosted event took place at the Dalton Regional Airport in support of Georgia Senate candidates David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler. Other guests included candidate for Public Service Commissioner Lauren “Bubba” McDonald, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lindsey Graham and other Republicans.
Neither Perdue nor Loeffler earned a majority of the votes in the November 2020 election.
Perdue led Democrat Jon Ossoff by 88,098 votes, according to polling results. Of that, 47.95 percent of voters cast their ballots for Perdue's opponent, compared to his 49.73 percent.
Loeffler gathered 25.91 percent of votes, with Democrat Raphael Warnock taking 32.9 percent, or 343,821 more votes than his opponent.
"We have to hold the line, you have to get out and vote tomorrow," Loeffler said Monday night. "We are the firewall to socialism. We have to get it done."
Perdue did not attend the rally as he is at home in quarantine due to exposure to coronavirus last week. The rally kicked off with a video of Perdue at home, urging voters to get to the polls on Tuesday.
Trump spent much of his time Monday repeating unproven allegations of voter fraud that dozens of judges have rejected nationwide, and
"The stakes in this election could not be higher," Trump said. "The radical want unchecked, unrestrained absolute power over your lives. If the liberal Democrats take the Senate and the White House, and they're not taking this White House we’re gonna fight like hell I’ll tell you. I was telling Kelly [Loeffler], you can lose, and it’s acceptable. ... But when you win in a landslide, and it’s rigged, it’s not acceptable. If these two don't win, and we don't take the presidency, the people will be at the mercy of the communists."
Trump said the mission for Georgia is two make sure the "radical left can't take your voice or votes in Washington."
"I know [Perdue and Loeffler] well," he said. "They're respected people, and they love their state and country. The Democrats are trying to steal the White House, you can’t let them steal the U.S. Senate. David and Kelly are running against the most extreme candidates in the history of our state, probably in our country."
The president praised both GOP senators for their support of his trade deals, wall along the U.S./Mexico border, Second Amendment rights, and the military. And both backed the $2,000 stimulus payments that GOP Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell shot down.
"I love this state, this state has been very good to me," Trump said. "I’ve had a lot of victories here. I love the people of this state. We can't let that happen. The damage [Ossoff and Warnock] do will be permeant and irreversible. Nothing and no one will be able to stop them. These senate seats will be the last line."
President-elect Joe Biden also visited Georgia on Monday afternoon as he campaigned for Democrat senate candidates Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.
Vice President Mike Pence also spoke at an event mid-day Monday in Georgia.
Return to Patch for the latest vote tally. Subscribe to free News Alerts for election results.
The president's appearance comes on the heels of national criticism after audio of an hour-long phone call between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger was leaked. In the audio, Trump pressured Raffensperger to "find" enough votes in the state to overturn his November election defeat against Biden.
At one point, Trump said, "So look. All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have. Because we won the state," the Washington Post reported. Also on the call, according to the Post, were White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, conservative lawyer Cleta Mitchell, and the Georgia secretary of state office's general counsel.
The crucial Senate races will determine which party — Republicans or Democrats — will have control over the U.S. Senate. Democrats already have the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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This article originally appeared on the Cartersville Patch
