With Georgia Rally, Trump Tests Role As Asset Or Liability For Senate GOP Control

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President Trump at a campaign rally last month in Rome, Ga.





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Evan Vucci/AP



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South Dakota GOP Sen. Mike Rounds argues what happens in the Georgia race will play a large role in Trump’s legacy. And if he remains focused, it will boost Republican arguments that they can continue the work that he started, Rounds said.

«If we are able to retain the United States Senate, his legacy will be protected. We’ll have a strong economy. We’ll have lower unemployment rates, Rounds said, «and hopefully we’ll continue to be able to at least moderate what some very liberal politicians would like to do in Washington, D.C., to the rest of the country.

It’s still a tricky argument to make in Georgia since Trump has yet to concede his loss. So far, the 100-member Senate will be comprised of 50 Republicans as a result of the November elections, leaving the party one seat short of chamber control that could have been decided with a Republican vice president.

Now, with Democrats and two independents who caucus with them claiming 48 seats come January, they’ll hope for a sweep in Georgia to reach 50 members. With Vice President-elect Kamala Harris at the helm, she would break ties in Democrats’ favor.

Mixed messaging

Under normal circumstances, sans Trump, Republicans would be expected to win the two Senate seats in Georgia, argues Buck, the former Paul Ryan advisor.

And while the state elected Biden, the two Democrats in the running — Jon Ossoff facing off against Perdue and Rev. Raphael Warnock against Loeffler — swing farther to the left, he said.

But with Trump discouraging voter participation and putting doubt into his voters minds about the integrity of the election, it’s a matter of time before they stop participating, he said. And that is what could cost Perdue and Loeffler.

«You can’t tell people that the system is rigged and expect them all to participate in it. So they’re really in a pretty unfortunate spot, Buck said. «It’s not the strategy that I think any of them would want to have. But when Trump is around, it’s the strategy that you’re left with.

Among the concerns, pro-Trump attorney Lin Wood has urged voters to boycott the election and fraud claims by longtime lawyer Rudy Giuliani. That creates a distraction and a drag on Republican voter turnout in a race that is virtually an enthusiasm election.

Both Perdue, who is running for his second term, and Loeffler, who was appointed to her seat by the governor and seeking her first election, have had to strongly align as Trump allies. Now, it’s too late to try to reset that image, and have to focus on driving out the base, Buck said.

«That is why it’s so critical for them to go along with all of Trump’s nonsense, because the risk of him turning on them and saying that they’re surrendering — or they’re not fighters — could potentially be fatal for them, Buck said.

If Republicans weren’t having to navigate the intra-party fighting, they could spend their time focusing on how Democrats are out of step with the state, and the risk to the Senate majority, Buck said. If they were able to focus on this later message, they win, he said.

Instead, they are having to fend off distractions, and the long list of antics by Trump and his allies attacking the state and its political leaders, Buck said.

Still, Republican campaign officials reject that premise. They maintain that Trump will deliver a united party message to Georgia voters.

«The President’s rally on Saturday will remind voters that the only way to stop the far-left’s socialist agenda is to turn out for Senators Perdue and Loeffler, said Nathan Brand, spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. «The President’s message for Georgians is clear: if you’re angry with what happened, the only way to changes things is to vote for Senators Perdue and Loeffler in the Georgia runoffs.