President-elect Joe Biden released a joint ad for Democratic Senate candidates Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock in the Georgia runoff elections, arguing that he needs a Senate majority to pass a COVID-19 relief package that has been struggling to move through Congress.
“Georgia, I know things are tough right now. But I want you to know, help is on the way,” Biden says in the 60-second direct-to-camera ad.
“My administration is preparing to beat COVID-19 and get economic relief to the American people,” said Biden, who added that he was prepared to sign a relief package on his first day in office.
“Let me be clear, I need Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in the United States Senate to get this done,” Biden said.
Congress is nearing a $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill, but lawmakers hope it will be signed into law by President Trump as part of a larger spending package. Congress hopes to complete work on the bill and send it to Trump before Christmas.
Biden has supported the package, but described it as a down payment, saying Congress should take additional steps.
Ossoff and Warnock are running against Sens. David Perdue (R-Ga.) and Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) on Jan. 5 to determine which party controls the Senate. Democrats must win both seats to achieve a 50-50 split in the upper chamber, which would allow Vice President-elect Kamala Harris to cast tie-breaking votes.
Biden in 2020 became the first Democrat to win in Georgia since Bill Clinton in 1992, narrowly defeating President Trump by about 10,000 votes.
Polls show both Senate races are extremely tight.
Biden campaigned in Georgia at an outdoor rally for Ossoff and Warnock this week.