GEROGIA RUNOFF ELECTION THOUGHTS

 As I the this it's a few hours until the polls closed in today's runoff elections in Georgia for the U.S. Senate seat.  While early reports and early polls according to Five Thirty Eight) show Democratic candidates Jon Ossoff and Rev, Raphael Warnock with a two point lead over Senators Pewrdue and Loeffler (the latter appointed in the interim after the resignation of Sen. Johnny Isakson for health reasons), that remains within the margin of error which means the election can go either way. I've ever heard a prediction that it may be unlikely that we;ll know who wins tonight. Because of this here are a few thoughts to keep in mind.,

First, early polls have shown Warnock and Ossoff with a slight lead (Democratic voters have taken COVID more seriously and are more willing to vote early). However, it's the ground game on election day that will make the difference and traditionally Repubs tend to vote on election day itself. Because of this the runoff can go either way with either the Democratic eke-ing out a slim majority for the Senate (with VP elect Kamala Harris, once VP, being the tie breaker) or the Repubs (a/k/a: Coupublicans) getting a slim majority in the Senate but acting like they have a damn mandate to do everything to make Biden a one term President and make sure nothing gets done with Senate Majority leader Addison the Turtle doing just what he did during the Obama years. Between election day turnout, how the votes will get counted and the issue of absentee ballots this means that it's in the air and that nothing should be taken for granted.

Also of note is the reason for the run-offs is the third candidates in the race with Perdue facing off against both Jon Ossoff and Libertarian candidate Shawn Hazel and Loeffler (who's election was a special election due to Isakson's retirement facing off against both Warnock and former Rep. Doug Collins. These candidates might have gotten just enough votes to force runoffs in both races but it's hard to say. It did seem to have enough of an effect to make this possible so in the runoffs with just two candidates it's hard to say what voters for third candidates might go.  

So what will happen now? Time will tell. If the Democrats win there may be some steps in the right direction. If the Repubs win it'll likely be a mirror of what went down during the Obama administration with total obstructionism and the Repubs doing everything to make sure we don't move forward as a nation.

Here's to hoping things don't get too damn bad.