The growing 2020 Republican concern

Unsplash

Perdue gives a voice to Republican fears that the Democrats have a growing chance of taking back the Senate this year. All candidates face a more challenging election in 2020 than ever before— as they are must navigate unpredictable public health concerns and an economic crisis.

Republicans are concerned about former Vice President Joe Biden getting a 50-50 tie, which could impact the battles in states such as Kansas and Georgia—states that were carried by Trump in 2016. If Biden takes the White House, it will be easier for Democrats to win the three seats needed to gain control of the Senate.

GOP senators have been working harder to ensure their loyal voters make it to the polls. It is a point stressed by Perdue when he told GOP activists that the 2020 elections would be a “turning point for America.” He worries that if Democrats take back the Senate, they will try to make D.C. and Puerto Rico states, get rid of the Electoral College, and add four Justices to the Supreme Court. He claims the will, in essence, make a “single-party system.”

The ‘wake-up call’ in Georgia

Screenshot/YouTube

Perdue says, “We have had our wake-up call in Georgia,” as many challenging and potential outcomes are ahead. Republican Doug Collins is running for Senator Kelly Loeffler’s (R-GA) seat. Perdue worries “Collins’ vendetta against Kemp could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back and finally flips Georgia blue.” At the same time, Republican leaders also worry that their battle will make winning easier for Democrat Reverend Raphael Warnock, who raised $1.5 million in his first quarter.

Warnock attacked Loeffler, who made questionable stock trades before the pandemic tanked the market. Warnock slammed Loeffler saying that she “seemed to be more focused on sheltering her own investments than she was in making sure that those who were sheltering in have the protections that they need.” A spokesperson for Loeffler denied this saying she has put “people — not politics — first.”

As for Perdue, he believes he needs to get “twice the number of votes” as he did in 2014 to keep his seat since there are more Democrats in Georgia this year. A Perdue spokeswoman, Casey Black, said their campaign has known ‘this will be a competitive race,’ and that they “are confident that Georgia voters will re-elect David Perdue this November.” However, neither party thinks Purdue’s campaign is as competitive as the others in the Georgia senate race— an election that aims to fill the seat of the now-retired Sen. Johnny Isakson (R).

Trump’s impact

Joint Chiefs of Staff / Dominique A. Pineiro

Republicans in Washington have displayed concern that their senators are not getting credit for backing emergency rescue legislation to help the economy because governors are getting most of the credit. Republicans are also relying on Trump’s handling of the coronavirus response, since his performance will largely influence down-ticket voting at the polls.

GOP pollster Whit Ayres said it will be a “challenge for Republican senators to run very far ahead of the President given the deeply polarized electorate.” He added, “That means the President’s standing in each of these states is every bit as important or more important than the senator’s standing.” Purdue has previously shown to have ties with Trump, and has vowed his support for the President. Perdue says Trump has “helped save lives” during the crisis.

Money race

Canva

Republicans continue to face more challenges this year as Democrats in seven other Senate races (Arizona, Maine, North Carolina, Colorado, Kansas, Georgia, and Montana) have raised more than their Republican opponents.

Kansas has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1932, but Democrat Barbara Bollier raised more than her Republican opponents with almost $2.4 million in the first quarter of the year. State GOP chair Mike Kuckelman has urged two candidates to drop out so that Rep. Roger Marshall has a stronger chance at winning against Kobach and Bob Hamilton, both of who had late entries.

In another challenge for Republicans, the Democrats seem to be farther ahead in the race for money and are ensuring even states that Trump won in 2016 are competitive. On Tuesday, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee announced it is going to reserve over $30 million in fall advertising for Arizona, North Carolina, Iowa, and Montana. In states such as Iowa, where the Republicans are benefiting more from the money, two PACs have announced they would reserve $25 million to advertise this fall.

Republican leaders in Washington don’t want to spend money in Kansas but feel pressure to if the race goes downhill. Republicans also feel pressure to spend additional money on advertising in certain states. The Senate Leadership Fund, which aligns with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), has already reserved more than double their amount spent in 2018—$67 million—in six key states.

On Wednesday, McConnell stated on Fox News radio that 23 Republican and only a dozen Democrats are up for reelection, “So yes, we’re on defense—and we’ve got competitive races all over the place.”