Electoral extortion at work

Joe Biden has cut an unusual dual campaign ad for both Democrats -- Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock -- seeking to win U.S. Senate seats in Georgia on January 5. A joint campaign ad for two candidates at once is rare. (I tried to remember when I'd last seen two U.S. Senate races in one state at once -- we had Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer in 1992. Any others come to mind?)

Aside from some unnecessary deference to "the troops" (is Georgia honeycombed with military bases or something?), Biden's pitch is just what it needs to be: if we hope for meaningful federal cash to support a vaccine-enabled recovery from the pandemic, we need a Democratic-controlled Senate.

The Republican evil genius of the Senate, Leader Mitch McConnell, agrees. Audio from a conference call catches him telling current Republican Senators that, despite their tight-fisted inclinations, they have to vote for some kind of cash stimulus before Christmas.

“Kelly and David are getting hammered,” explained McConnell.

Kelly (Loeffler) and David (Perdue) are the Georgia GOP Senate candidates and incumbents. All 48 Democratic Senators have been waiting to vote for more aid since May when the House first passed an aid bill. McConnell has said no.

Thanks to the danger that Ossoff and Loefller might prevail, it looks like we the people will get something out of Washington this week. McConnell is being squeezed. But watch out if he retains his majority. If we want real government action in the new year, both Georgia candidates need to win.

Joe Biden did just carry Georgia -- maybe he can help do it again.