US President-elect Joe Biden says politicians cannot seize power, urges votes in Georgia runoff to choose Democrats

In his speech in Atlanta, Biden referred obliquely to Trump’s controversial phone call, saying: “Politicians cannot, assert, take, or seize power. Power has to be given, granted by the American people. We can never give that up.”

If the Democrats win both the Georgia Senate run-offs they will effectively control the Senate thanks to a tie-breaking vote from vice-president elect Kamala Harris. If either of the Democratic candidates lose then Republicans will maintain their majority.

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“Georgia: the whole nation is looking to you to lead us forward,” Biden said.

“The power is literally in your hands. One state can chart the course not just for the next four years but for a generation.”

Republicans would usually be favoured to win run-off elections in Georgia but some in the party fear that Trump’s efforts to sow doubt about the legitimacy of the electoral process will suppress turnout among conservative voters.

Biden said that Americans would quickly receive $US2000 emergency relief cheques if Democrats win control of the Senate. Funding for the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and for state and local governments would also flow, he said.

Trump will speak at a rally in Georgia later on Tuesday (AEDT) to motivate Republican voters and repeat his unfounded claims that the election was stolen from him.

In his conversation with Raffensperger, first reported by The Washington Post, Trump said: “So look – all I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have. Because we won the state.”

He also said: “The people of Georgia are angry, the people of the country are angry. And there’s nothing wrong with saying, you know, that you’ve recalculated.”

Raffensperger replied that Trump was relying on faulty information and that there were no systemic problem with the state’s electoral process.

Republican Senator Pat Toomey released a statement condemning Trump’s actions: “President Trump’s call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger represents a new low in this whole futile and sorry episode. I commend Republican election officials across the country who have discharged their duties with integrity.”

Around a dozen Republican senators and over 100 members of the House of Representatives have announced they will challenge Biden’s victory when Congress meets to certify the Electoral College results on Thursday (AEDT).

They will be able to delay the certification for hours or perhaps more than a day but will not have the numbers to prevent Biden from being inaugurated as the country’s 46th president on January 20.