Georgia run-off elections: Warnock leading Loeffler other race deadlocked, poll says
Georgia Democrat Raphael Warnock is leading Senator Kelly Loeffler in their run-off special election, according to a new poll.
And the other Senate run-off in the state also sees Democrat Jon Ossoff narrowly ahead of GOP Senator David Perdue.
The crucial showdowns will be held in January and will decide control of the upper chamber.
Atlanta pastor Reverend Warnock leads Ms Loeffler 52 per cent to 45 per cent in the poll from SurveyUSA commissioned by Atlanta’s WXIA-TV.
Ms Loeffler, who is the richest member of Congress with an estimated personal fortune of more than $800m, was appointed to the seat last year by Republican Governor Brian Kemp following the resignation of Johnny Isakson.
She has been a close Donald Trump ally and an ultra-consistent Republican vote.
Rev Warnock holds the same position once held by the Rev Martin Luther King Jr as the pastor of Atlanta’s famed Ebenezer Baptist Church.
The 5 January election will see the GOP retain control of the Senate if either of the Republican candidates win.
But if both Democrats win the parties will split the chamber evenly, allowing vice president-elect Kamala Harris to break all ties after the inauguration.
Mr Ossoff is narrowly leading Mr Perdue 50 per cent to 48 per cent in the other race, according to the poll.
White voters in the state gave Mr Perdue a 43 per cent lead and Ms Loeffler a 37 point lead, while among Black voters Mr Ossoff leads his race by 87 per cent and Rev Warnock by 83 per cent.
The poll used online interviews with 850 adults inGeorgia between 27 November and 30 November.
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