In figures that left Republicans (and more than a few prognosticators) gasping for breath, a just-completed Public Policy Poll showed Democrat Raphael Warnock leading the field in Georgia’s special U.S. Senate election.
PPP showed Warnock, pastor of Martin Luther King’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, with 41 percent Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who was appointed earlier this year to replace fellow Republican and ailing Sen. Johnny Isakson, was in second with 24 percent, followed closely (22 percent) by Republican Rep. Doug Collins.
Under the Peach State’s unique special election law, all candidates appear on the same ballot in November. If no one wins a majority, then the two top vote-getters regardless of party meet in a December runoff.
Analysts who talked to Newsmax agreed that the national Democratic Party mobilizing behind Warnock has all but eliminated from contention two other Democratic hopefuls: lawyer Ed Tarver and Atlanta businessman Matt Lieberman, son of 2000 Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Lieberman. In the PPP poll, Tarver and Lieberman were at 0 and 3 percent respectively.
Moreover, Warnock recently ran a much-praised TV spot featuring his daughter, who has spina bifida.
“Warnock is the only Democrat on TV, so he is going to get more of the first round of votes — likely in the mid 40s,” veteran Republican consultant Matt Towery told Newsmax, “The Republicans will split the GOP vote but are highly likely — which ever of them emerges — to win the runoff.”
Other Georgia Republicans who spoke to us are not so certain. As one former office-holder who requested anonymity told us, “Collins will support Loeffler if she makes the run-off, but I’m not so sure if it works the other way around. So far, she has spent $30 million of her own wealth on the race — the first $10 million of which was completely wasted.”
With her husband, Loeffler is co-owner of the financial service provider International Exchange and also co-owner of the Atlanta Dream of the National Women’s Basketball Association.
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.
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