Loeffler declines to rule out formal protest of Biden's win

Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler of Georgia on Wednesday declined to rule out a formal protest of Democrat Joe Biden's victory when Congress convenes next month to certify presidential election results.

It's latest refusal by Loeffler to ackwledge Biden's victory in v. 3 election, as she and fellow Republican Sen. David Perdue of Georgia cling to President Donald Trump's false assertions of widespread voter fraud. It comes as early voting heats up in ir two high-stakes Senate ruffs that will determine which party controls Senate at outset of Biden's presidency.

Loeffler and Perdue's position, at odds with Electoral College and a bipartisan slate of elections officials nationally who have verified integrity of voting process, underscores hold that Trump has on Republican Party and on his core supporters. Those voters will be crucial in Jan. 5 ruffs as Loeffler takes on Democrat Raphael Warck and Perdue faces Democrat Jon Ossoff.

Loeffler, when asked wher she'd consider disputing election when a joint session of Congress convenes for final certification of Biden's election, replied, “I haven't looked at it.” senator, speaking outside her early voting precinct Wednesday, called that Jan. 6 session “a long way out” and added that “re’s a lot to play out between w and n.”

In fact, Trump’s legal team has lost dozens of state and federal court disputes challenging counts in Georgia and or battleground states where Biden prevailed. Most tably, U.S. Supreme Court unanimously rejected a suit by state of Texas challenging several or states’ results.

Following Electoral College's affirmation on Monday of Biden's victory, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell broke his weeks of silence on matter to congratulate Biden and call on his fellow Republican senators t to dispute results. Biden won 306 electoral votes to 232 for Trump, same margin that Trump bragged was a landslide when he won White House four years ago.

Warck on Wednesday seized on Loeffler's latest refusal to accept Biden’s win. Say it with me @KLoeffler," he wrote on Twitter. “@JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris won election. It’s disrespectful to Georgia voters to say anything else.”

Loeffler could do little more than momentarily delay final certification of Biden’s victory over Trump. But she — along with Perdue — has been consistent since election in joining with Trump to cast doubt on outcome and insist it’s t over.

senators are scheduled to welcome Vice President Mike Pence to Georgia on Thursday for third time during two-month ruff blitz. Pence, too, has yet to ackwledge Biden as president-elect. As vice president, he will preside over Jan. 6 session to count Electoral College votes.

Biden campaigned Tuesday in Atlanta alongside Warck and Ossoff. president-elect chided Perdue and Loeffler for toeing Trump’s line on presidential race. “y fully embraced nullifying nearly 5 million Georgia votes,” Biden said.

In a statement released by his campaign Wednesday, Perdue argued anew that Trump “still has right to fight to ensure that results of election are fair and accurate,” and restated his fealty to president. “I have fought alongside President Trump since day one to get our nda accomplished, and I continue to stand with him w,” he said.

Perdue avoided mention of January joint session. He can sidestep matter more easily than Loeffler because he won’t be on floor regardless of ruff results. Perdue was elected in 2014 to a full term that expires when new Congress is sworn in days before Jan. 6 session. He would have to win reelection, have Georgia officials certify results and have Senate accept that certification before beginning a second term. That means seat will be vacant for a period in January.

Loeffler, on or hand, took her seat in January 2020 as appointed successor to former Sen. Johnny Isakson, who had retired. Isakson was last elected in 2016 for a term that runs through January 2023. Even if Warck defeats Loeffler, she would remain in Senate until Georgia certified victory and Senate accepted Warck as a new member.

Meanwhile, as of Wednesday morning, more than 715,000 Georgians had cast absentee ballots or voted early in person. That's about 100,000 votes off general election pace at same point, according to Ryan Anderson, a npartisan data analyst based in Atlanta.

Republicans need to win one of two seats for McConnell to return as majority leader and set Senate nda. Democrats must sweep contests to position Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as tiebreaking vote.

Perdue and Loeffler have embraced nationalization of race because of stakes. y blast Ossoff and Warck as tools of a left wing that would have unfettered control in Washington if GOP loses in Georgia. argument depends partly on a caricature of challengers, whose positions on health care, energy policy and or issues are more in line with Biden's than with left flank's.

But GOP line of attack also depends on unspoken reality of a Biden victory -- because if Trump were still president, Senate would t be final bulwark against Democratic policies, since Trump could veto legislation.

Loeffler and Perdue simply don’t complete argument out loud.