[ad_1]
Published:
Updated:
Published:
Updated:
VALDOSTA. Donald Trump celebrates his first major mass demonstration tonight after the electoral defeat.
On the ground in Georgia, he hopes to give Republicans traction in the Senate battle.
Concerns abound in the Republican Party that it continues to spread allegations of election fraud and, rather, that more people are boycotting the decisive Senate race.
“I will not vote again unless the fraud is investigated first,” said Melanie Frank, a Trump supporter.
At Valdosta Airport, the stands and speakers are ready. Thousands of supporters are now flocking to the area to see President Donald Trump in his first major rally since the electoral defeat.
Here in South Georgia, Trump arrives in hopes of increasing the turnout in the state’s special re-election to the Senate on January 5.
The stakes are high: The remaining two Senate seats will determine whether Republicans can retain their majority. Or if Joe Biden can push more of his policies when he moves in as president of the White House.
But the question is whether Trump can give Republican Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler a boost.
His propaganda about widespread electoral fraud during the presidential elections has complicated the situation: Many of his most loyal supporters are talking about a boycott of the senators’ race, which worries and divides Republicans.
Many doubt that Trump can stick to the message about the senators from the stage tonight, or if he will rather fuel conspiracies about voter fraud, which could have a negative effect on turnout.
Outside the Georgia parliament building in Atlanta, hundreds of Trump supporters have gathered over the past week to protest Biden’s victory. Many of the president’s accusations of fake ballots and rigged scrutiny resonate there.
Behind the riot fence, supporters shout “Stop the robbery!” while waving flags of the southern states and banners showing Trump as the action character Rambo.
Melanie Frank, 55, of Atlanta, is one of those screaming “Brian Kemp sucks!” about the Republican governor of Georgia, because he believes he does not support Trump enough.
Photo: Emelie Svensson
Melanie Frank, Trump supporter.
– The president is fighting the establishment, and now we have to stand up and fight for him. We know that Trump cannot have lost by 12,000 votes in Georgia, he tells Aftonbladet.
In recent weeks, Trump has launched a fierce attack on electoral security in Georgia. On Saturday, he repeated the attacks on Republican Governor Brian Kemp and other party officials on Twitter, for approving an outcome in which Biden is the winner.
The president’s message not to depend on the outcome of an election, on the one hand, but to urge Georgia to vote in a new election, has led to what is described as a civil war among Republicans.
At the center of the conflict is Trump supporter and trial attorney Lin Wood, who said Georgia should not vote in “another rigged election.” His allegations of voter fraud are considered so extreme that Trump even called the lawyer to ask him to stop, Politico reports.
Protester Melanie Frank reiterates Trump’s claims that voting machines were tampered with during the election in favor of Biden. Now she is one of those that will boycott the Senate elections in Georgia if nothing is done for electoral security.
– I won’t vote – if you don’t investigate the hoax first, she says.
Trump supporter Mark, 64, who is also present to protest, says it is wrong to boycott the Senate elections in Georgia. Therefore, you are guaranteed to vote for the Republican candidates.
– Absolutely. because we must stop the Democrats from controlling the Senate, otherwise Biden and the Democrats have full control of the country and they will destroy everything we have built.
He is confident that the vote will go well this time, although he is not confident in the outcome of the presidential election.
– I think this time more people have their eyes on what is happening in Georgia. That’s what Trump has said, he says.
Published:
Published:
