Georgia Republican Party Chair Josh McKoon told Newsmax on Tuesday that strong Election Day turnout, combined with a flurry of late endorsements from President Donald Trump and Gov. Brian Kemp, could determine the winners of the state's GOP runoffs for governor and U.S. Senate.
On "Carl Higbie FRONTLINE," McKoon said that Republicans were watching two competitive statewide runoffs, with voters returning to the polls after no candidate secured a majority in last month's primary elections.
"We have two very competitive elections for U.S. Senate and for governor here," McKoon said.
In the Senate runoff, former college football coach Derek Dooley has the backing of Kemp, while Rep. Mike Collins received the president's endorsement over the weekend.
"Our very popular governor, Brian Kemp, has endorsed former football coach Derek Dooley," McKoon said. "And of course, President Trump endorsed Congressman Collins over the weekend."
McKoon said the timing of those endorsements could make Election Day turnout more important than early voting.
"We've got a big question today about what's going to happen with the Election Day vote in Georgia," he said.
According to McKoon, roughly 300,000 voters cast ballots in the weeklong early voting period. Numbers available Tuesday, however, suggested more than 350,000 voters could cast ballots on Election Day, he said.
"It may be a tale of two separate elections," McKoon said.
A similar dynamic is playing out in the Republican gubernatorial runoff, where Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, already endorsed by Trump, received a surprise endorsement from Kemp on Sunday. Jones faces businessman Rick Jackson.
"I think both of these races are going to be close," McKoon said. "But I think they're going to come down to the Election Day voting because I think these endorsements are going to have an outside effect on that Election Day voting."
The key question, he said, was whether the late endorsements would be enough to alter the outcome.
"The question we were asking earlier today: Would it be enough?" McKoon said. "It looks like it's going to be quite a lot."
GET TODAY NEWSMAX+:
NEWSMAX is the fastest-growing cable news channel in America with more than 30 million people watching!
Reuters Institute reports NEWSMAX is one of the top news brands in the U.S.
You need to watch NEWSMAX today.
Get it with great shows from Rob Schmitt, Greta Van Susteren, Greg Kelly, Carl Higbie, Rob Finnerty – and many more!
Find the NEWSMAX channel on your cable system – Go Here Now
BEST OFFER:
Sign up for NEWSMAX+ and get NEWSMAX, our streaming channel NEWSMAX2 and our military channel World at War.
Find hundreds of shows, movies and specials.
Even get Jon Voight's special series and much more!
Watch NEWSMAX+ on your smartphone or home TV app.
Watch NEWSMAX anytime, anywhere!
Start your FREE trial now: NewsmaxPlus.com