Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 22 June 2017
In Georgia, Republicans celebrate while Dems seek upsides

By BILL BARROW and KATH- sanship — voters seeing the ground status — turning
LEEN FOODY world through their party from red to purple in the
Associated Press identity. But each side hav- common political par-
DUNWOODY, Ga. (AP) — ing a base of voters who lance. It started with then-
believe in the strength of Sen. Barack Obama man-
Republicans say Karen
Handel’s victory in Geor- their respective parties is it- aging 46 percent of the
self an ingredient required vote here in 2008. Georgia
gia’s 6th Congressional
District proves the GOP is for competitive politics. had the narrowest margin
And Ossoff’s 48 percent is of the states that Obama
still the dominant party in
Georgia. a higher mark than Demo- did not win that year.
crats have managed in Yet Democrats have con-
Georgia Republican Party
Chairman John Watson recent statewide races in- sistently fallen short of their
own expectations since.
volving less of a GOP ad-
credited Handel for “crush-
ing liberal dreams.” vantage than Atlanta’s Obama didn’t match his
northern suburbs.
first performance in his re-
Democrats say Jon Ossoff’s
48 percent showing in a That leaves Georgia Dem- election campaign. Hillary
ocratic Chairman Dubose Clinton landed at 45 per-
Republican stronghold is
proof that they’re actually Porter and other Demo- cent.
crats claiming some hope Porter and other Demo-
making progress toward
making Georgia a genuine Republican candidate for Georgia’s 6th District Congressional from Ossoff’s defeat as crats ballyhooed their U.S.
both parties look ahead to Senate and gubernatorial
battleground. seat Karen Handel declares victory during an election-night
Turns out, both sides can watch party Tuesday, June 20, 2017, in Atlanta. the 2018 elections, when nominees in 2014, recruit-
Democrats will try to dent ing a pair of famous Geor-
be right this time. Associated Press
“This was not a cakewalk Republicans’ monopoly on gia political names and
statewide offices and the helping them raise millions
for them,” Ossoff supporter focused on backing Os- Handel campaigns.
Jen Cox said. “And it never soff’s campaign and other He doesn’t expect the dis- legislature. of dollars to finance cred-
All of the state’s congres-
ible campaigns. But former
will be again. That’s the win red seats that could be trict’s leanings to change
for us today.” poachable. in the coming years either, sional seats, including Han- Sen. Sam Nunn’s daughter
del’s, will be on the ballot Michelle Nunn managed
For eight years living in Handel backers, though, betting that its makeup of
the traditionally conser- hailed Tuesday’s results as well-educated and well-off as well. just 45 percent of the vote
“This was a pretty good after an expensive race
vative area, Cox kept her confirmation that the dis- voters will give Republicans
mouth shut about politics trict remains solidly in the “with a strong platform, a fight ... exciting to be a part against Republican David
of,” Porter said of the Ossoff Perdue, now the state’s ju-
until she was certain of her party’s grasp. “Karen was good history and a good
neighbors’ leanings. Cox, able to pull Republicans record” a path to victory. race. “It will only get better nior senator. Jason Carter,
grandson of former Presi-
in 2018.”
a 47-year-old Realtor and back together,” said Jim Those polar views the day
mother of two daughters, Phillips, a 69-year-old re- after Handel’s 4-point win Democrats have said for dent Jimmy Carter, fared
several election cycles that no better, falling just shy of
co-founded a group this tiree from Marietta who over Ossoff can be partly
year called “Pave It Blue” has volunteered on several attributed to sheer parti- the Republican-run state 45 percent against incum-
is on the cusp of battle- bent Gov. Nathan Deal.q
Joe Biden to LGBT gala: ‘Hold President Trump accountable’

By STEVE PEOPLES House pushed back cerns should students be al-
Associated Press against critics of the Re- lowed to select bathrooms
NEW YORK (AP) — Former publican president. or locker rooms that match
Vice President Joe Biden, “President Trump has been their gender identities. In
warning of transgender clear in his commitment to reversing the Obama-era
Americans “under attack” improving the lives of all policy,
in Republican-led states, Americans, including those the Trump administration
on Wednesday chal- in the LGBT community,” cited states’ rights.
lenged the nation’s LGBT White House spokeswom- Biden has been increas-
community to push back an Kelly Love said. ingly politically active since
against President Donald While Biden avoided lash- leaving the White House.
Trump’s administration. ing out at Trump directly, The 74-year-old Democrat
“Hold President Trump ac- he condemned the presi- launched a political action
countable for his pledge dent’s political party and committee earlier in the
to be your friend,” Biden homophobic regimes month, stoking speculation
declared at a private LGBT around the world that pro- he may seek the presiden-
gala hosted by the Demo- In this June 7, 2017, file photo, former U.S. Vice President Joe mote policies such as “cor- cy in 2020. He headlined a
cratic National Committee Biden speaks during a conference in Athens. rective rape” and “con- fundraiser for Florida Dem-
in New York. Associated Press version therapy” on gay ocrats on Saturday and
“Just because you don’t people. met privately with allies of
have Barack and me in The issue has earned rela- dents to use school bath- “Transgender Americans Republican Mitt Romney,
the White House doesn’t tively little notice in Wash- rooms and locker rooms are under attack from the former Massachusetts
mean it’s time to give up, ington as political leaders matching their gender state legislatures from North governor and presidential
keep quiet, stay on the focus on health care, taxes identities. LGBT advocates Carolina to Texas,” Biden candidate, the weekend
sidelines.” and multiple investigations also note that Trump, added, citing legislation before.
Trump vowed to protect into the Trump campaign’s breaking from the practice “targeting young people, Biden was introduced
the LGBT community dur- ties to Russia. of Obama, declined to is- kids who are just trying to Wednesday by DNC fi-
ing his campaign, but crit- The Trump administration sue a formal proclamation attend school.” nance chair Henry Munoz,
ics say he hasn’t kept his in February lifted Obama- in honor of Pride Month in Proponents of bathroom having officiated Munoz’s
word since taking office. era federal guidelines that June. laws in Republican-led same-sex wedding last
allowed transgender stu- In a statement, the White states warn of safety con- month.q