Georgia Senate runoff for two seats puts crucial fight between Republicans and Democrats

Georgia Senate runoff: As the stakes go higher, so does the election campaign fund. Democrats doesn’t seem to be in mood for leaving any stone unturned with respect to the ongoing race for two Senate seats for Georgia. Two of the Democrat candidates who jumped in the election race, due on January 5, included Jon Ossoff, who is competing against Republican Senator David Perdue, and Raphael Warnock, who is taking on Senator Kelly Loeffler. 

According to their campaign finance report, both the Democrats raised over $100 million in two months time. The report revealed that Ossoff raised $106 million between October 15 and December 16, while Warnock wasn’t war behind with $103 million. Whereas for Republicans the figures have been on a lower side as Perdue took in about $68 million over the same time period, and Loeffler reported a little under $64 million. 

It is imperative for Democrats to win both the seats, as these two seats would determine which party gained a greater influence in Senate. In case both of GOP’s senators win, or even if one of the Republicans win, they would gain majority in Senate, whereas Democrats would need both the seats to hit the 50-50 mark. In latter scenario, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris would gain the power to deliver tie-breaking votes.

 “We’re humbled by the grassroots support and generosity that continues to power Reverend Warnock’s campaign to represent all Georgians in the U.S. Senate,” Jerid Kurtz, Warnock’s campaign manager, said in a statement.

Whereas Ossoff campaign expressed satisfaction with the recent voter turnout. Last time Ossoff, despite running a formidable campaign couldn’t convince people enough to vote for him and failed to ask Republicans the tough questions related to key issues including health care. Three years down the line, he is back in the ring and this time putting against Republican Senator David Perdue. 

The 33-year old Democrat candidate, if elected, would become the Senate’s youngest member. He said that he has worked a little harder this time on his attacks and defences and gained confidence in communicating with voters as compared to the last time. In an interview Ossoff said in an interview “The lesson that I learned is about the power of ordinary people, well organized and passionately committed to making change, to build power. And the infrastructure that we built in that campaign has been of lasting value.”

Millions of dollars riding over the election has been used for extensive advertising and door-to-door campaigning to win the seats. Senate election for Georgia are not only important for all the four candidates but also both the parties as it would define who controls the Senate.

As per the budget report, Ossoff and Warnock have already spent over $179 million, and as of December 16 they were left with about $40 million on hand for the  campaigns’ homestretch. Whereas Perdue and Loeffler had spent more than $106 million and were reportedly left with about $37 million on hand.

Interestingly the fundraising figures doesn’t always convert into victory as in November Democrat Jaime Harrison raised the record-figure of $57 million in one quarter in his bid to beat US Senator Lindsey Graham in South Carolina. But Harrison lost that race.