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Washington – President Trump will travel to Georgia this weekend to rally Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, in his first campaign appearance since losing the presidential election last month. Although President-elect Joe Biden won Georgia and the results in the state were certified, Mr. Trump continued to make baseless claims that the election was somehow illegitimate.
The rally in Valdosta, Ga. Will be hosted by the Republican National Committee, not Mr. Trump’s campaign. Loeffler and Perdue are both locked up tight races for the second round of the elections on January 5. Loeffler, who was appointed to her seat by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and faced more than 21 other candidates in a special election last month, will face Democrat Raphael Warnock in January. Perdue, who was re-elected this year, is challenged by Democrat Jon Ossoff.
The outcome of these closely watched races will determine which party has control of the Senate. Republicans currently have a 50-48 majority for the New Year. If Ossoff and Warnock both win, Democrats will have a 50 to 50 majority, with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris breaking any tie.
Mr Trump has repeatedly criticized Georgian election officials and Kemp, wrongly insisting he won the state. Unsubstantiated allegations of electoral fraud have been supported by Loeffler and Perdue, resulting in threats and intimidation targeting state election officials.
Gabriel Sterling, one of Georgia’s top election officials, fiercely reprimanded Mr. Trump and Georgian senators on Tuesday called on the president to accept his electoral loss in the state and “stop inspiring people to commit potential acts of violence.”
“Mr President, it looks like you have probably lost the state of Georgia. We are investigating, there is always a possibility, I understand, you have a right to go to court,” Sterling said. “What you don’t have the capacity to do – and you have to step in and say this – is stop inspiring people to commit potential acts of violence. Someone is going to get hurt. shoot. Someone’s going to be killed. And that’s not fair. “
Sterling, Kemp, and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger are all Republicans. Mr Trump could continue to target Georgia election officials at Saturday’s rally and promote election conspiracy theories.
Unlike previous rallies featuring Mr. Trump, the RNC will “ask” attendees to wear masks. Regulations regarding face coverings have generally been lax at Trump rallies, and social distances have been limited.
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