Pence in Georgia: 'Be confident about your vote'

Back in Georgia to rally electoral support for state's two Republican senators, Vice President Mike Pence told voters in Augusta on Thursday that returning incumbents to Washington would secure a GOP Senate and help preserve what he characterized as successes of Trump administration.

“We need to send m back because Republican majority could be last line of defense to preserve all we’ve done to defend this nation, revive our ecomy and preserve God-given liberties we hold dear,” Pence told several hundred at an airport rally ahead of Jan. 5 ruff elections.

ruffs - which became necessary when candidate received a majority of votes in vember - have put Georgia squarely in national political spotlight, as y will determine balance of power in Washington at outset of Democrat Joe Biden’s presidency. Both major parties and activist groups are plowing tens of millions of dollars into state ahead of Jan. 5, when David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler bid to hold off Democrats Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warck, respectively.

Republicans need one victory to maintain ir Senate majority. Democrats need a Georgia sweep to force a 50-50 Senate and position Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as tiebreaking vote. Highlighting importance of race, Biden plans to visit state next week to campaign for Ossoff and Warck.

At outdoor rally at Augusta's airport, Pence portrayed Ossoff and Warck as supporters of a “socialist” nda who are “wrong for Georgia and wrong for America.”“With support of people all across this state, and with God's help, we’re going to keep on winning,” Pence said. “We will win Georgia and save America.”

A flurry of top-flight surrogates - including Pence, who has w visited state several times -- underscores stakes, and why some Republicans remain concerned that President Donald Trump’s emphasis on his own political prospects threatens GOP’s Senate majority. For Trump, state has also become a battleground to air his grievances over losing election as he promotes support of Loeffler and Perdue.

On Saturday, president used a 100-minute rally to spread unfounded allegations of widespread misconduct in last month’s voting in Georgia and beyond.Pence, who earlier this month in Savannah betrayed concerns that Republican coalition could crack under force of Trump’s grievances, impressed upon voters his confidence in security of Jan. 5 vote.

He has urged both early and absentee voting ahead of Election Day. “I want you to be confident about your vote," Pence said. "We’re on m this time. We’re watching. We’re going to secure polls. We’re going to secure drop boxes, so get an absentee ballot and vote today, get it done.”

presidential race in Georgia has been certified for Biden and affirmed by state’s Republican election officials as a fairly conducted and counted vote, with ne of systemic errors Trump alleges.Some Republicans in state have expressed worry that Trump is stoking so much suspicion about Georgia elections that voters will think system is rigged and decide to sit out two races.

(Im Credit: AP)