Obama, Pence Campaign For GA Senate Candidates In Dueling Rallies

GEORGIA — Georgia candidates for U.S. Senate held dueling rallies Friday afternoon — one in person, one virtual — and drew big names.

Vice President Mike Pence rallied in Savannah in support of Republican candidates U.S. Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue. That rally began at 2:30 p.m. at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. The event was live-streamed by WSAV-TV and other Savannah TV stations.

At about the same time, former President Barack Obama headlined a virtual rally for Democratic candidates Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock. Former Georgia Rep. and gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams also spoke. The event was live-streamed via YouTube and broadcast on C-SPAN.

The winners of the two Georgia Senate seats will tip the balance of which party controls the U.S. Senate.

Obama joined Ossoff and Warnock as Democrats work to keep the base excited and eager to vote.

"You are now, once again, the center of our civic universe because the special election in Georgia is going to determine, ultimately, the course of the Biden presidency and whether Joe Biden and Kamala Harris can deliver legislatively all the commitments they've made," Obama said, according to NBC News.

Pence joined Perdue in Savannah, but Sen. Kelly Loeffler changed plans after a campaign staffer, Harrison Deal, died in a car accident, she said in a statement.

President Donald Trump will hold a rally on Saturday in Valdosta with the two Republicans in the runoff, which is about a month away.

The president has privately complained about Loeffler, who was selected early this year by Gov. Brian Kemp to fill the Senate seat over Trump's wishes, advisers told The Washington Post.

Trump grew annoyed with Perdue, whom he likes and regularly golfs with, after Perdue said in a leaked call that Republicans may face challenging odds in Georgia, the paper said. "Officials say he wants both to win but is angry that Georgia voted against him.”

Monday is the last day to register to vote in the Jan. 5 runoff election. The Georgia Secretary of State’s website provides links to check your voter status and to register if necessary.

President-elect Joe Biden on Friday was on Twitter to urge Georgians to register to vote by Monday’s deadline, Fox News reported.

“Georgia — Our work isn’t over yet. Register to vote by December 7th, and let’s flip the Senate,” Biden tweeted.

Early voting begins on Dec. 14.