Page 5 - ARUBA TODAY

A5
U.S. NEWS Tuesday 18 april 2017
Trump attacks lead Democrat in Georgia congressional race

BILL BARROW Hillary Clinton and falling
Associated Press short of a majority. In 2012,
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (AP) — by contrast, Republican
President Donald Trump nominee Mitt Romney gar-
on Monday attacked his nered more than 60 per-
political enemies seeking cent of the vote.
an upset in Georgia’s spe- Even the leading Republi-
cial congressional election, can candidates concede
blasting the leading Demo- that Ossoff will lead an
cratic candidate as a “su- 18-candidate “jungle pri-
per liberal” who “wants to mary” that places all can-
protect criminals, allow il- didates on the same ballot.
legal immigration and raise The question is whether he
taxes!” can win an outright major-
Trump did not expound on ity.
his unfounded accusations GOP hopeful Karen Han-
about 30-year-old Jon Os- del said Monday that she
soff, but the president’s is confident enough Re-
Twitter broadside just a day publicans will cast ballots
before the special primary to hold Ossoff short of a This March, 2017 photo shows Democratic congressional candidate Jon Ossoff with supporters
underscores how big a majority, thus setting up a outside of the East Roswell Branch Library in Roswell, Ga. President Donald Trump on Monday
Democratic victory would June 20 runoff between blasted Ossoff as a “super liberal” who “wants to protect criminals, allow illegal immigration and
be nationwide and in the the Democratic upstart raise taxes!”
historically conservative and Tuesday’s top Repub- (AP Photo/Alex Sanz)
northern suburbs of Atlan- lican performer. worked not to localize the quished. Hill’s campaign House Speaker Newt Gin-
ta. “Republican voters are not race. used Rubio on a recorded grich to Capitol Hill.
Ossoff, who has used anti- going to sit by and let this “My closing argument is the phone pitch to Republican Still, that message hasn’t
Trump sentiments nation- district go to a Democrat,” same as my opening argu- households over the week- come with the same finan-
ally to collect at least $8.3 Handel said. ment, that we need an ex- end. cial muscle as Ossoff’s non-
million in campaign con- But the mere possibility has perienced individual with a Ossoff, meanwhile, has stop television campaign.
tributions, countered Mon- political observers across track record of delivering tried to capitalize on in- The Congressional Leader-
day that Trump is “misin- the country watching real results,” she said as she tense anti-Trump sentiments ship Fund, a political ac-
formed,” but added that closely. Both major parties campaigned in an upscale among liberals, while still tion committee backed
he’s “glad the president is see the well-educated, shopping district Monday. coaxing disaffected inde- by House Speaker Paul
interested in the race.” affluent district as a key That has made her an out- pendents and moderate Ryan, has put more than
Republicans and Demo- test of Trump’s popularity lier among top Republican Republicans who normally $2 million into Ossoff at-
crats alike see the closely among the kinds of voters contenders. wouldn’t consider voting tacks, an impressive sum
watched contest as an who will decide whether to Wealthy technology exec- Democratic. but only about a quarter of
important barometer of hand House control back utive Bob Gray has cozied In his response to Trump’s the Democrat’s campaign
Trump’s standing ahead to Democrats next year. up to Trump from the start, tweet, Ossoff said he is haul.
of 2018 midterm elections, The attention grew even running ads that show him, “focused on bringing fresh
when Democrats will try to more intense after last literally, draining a swamp leadership, accountabil- Ossoff’s path to an outright
regain control of Congress. week’s special congres- — a not to one of Trump’s ity and bipartisan problem victory may depend on low
The Georgia district, rep- sional election in Kansas, campaign signatures. Gray solving to Washington.” Republican turnout.
resented previously by where Republican Ron Es- pledges to be a “willing National Republicans have Almost 55,000 voters cast
Trump’s new health sec- tes won by just single-digits partner” for the new ad- sought to blunt Ossoff’s mo- early ballots, according to
retary, Tom Price, encom- in a Wichita-based district ministration. mentum by tying him to na- the Georgia Secretary of
passes reliably Republican that Trump had carried Former state Sen. Judson tional Democrats, particu- State. Various campaigns
territory across parts of easily. Hill is touting his endorse- larly House Minority Leader say they expect some-
three metro Atlanta coun- For her part, Handel, a GOP ment from Florida Sen. Mar- Nancy Pelosi. The California where between 100,000
ties. But Trump underper- establishment favorite who co Rubio, one of gaggle Democrat is an unpopular and 125,000 total votes out
formed here in November, served previously as Geor- of Republican presidential figure in this Georgia dis- of nearly 440,000 registered
barely edging Democrat gia secretary of state, has hopefuls that Trump van- trict that once sent former active voters. q
Gorsuch dives into the fray at first Supreme Court arguments

MARK SHERMAN Trump’s pick was sworn in lowed the plain text of the justices slouched, rocked died more than 14 months
SAM HANANEL one week earlier. statute?” Gorsuch asked back in their chairs or ago. Monday’s session was
Associated Press The 49-year-old Gorsuch during the first argument, leaned their chin or fore- the first since then with the
WASHINGTON (AP) — Jus- echoed his own confirma- a highly technical case head on their hands, Gor- ninth chair restored, and
tice Neil Gorsuch dived into tion hearing testimony with about which court federal such sat straight in his high- nine justices present.
the public side of his new questions focused on the employees go to with some backed chair, to the far left Roberts issued the stan-
job Monday, piping up ear- text of federal laws and discrimination claims. of Chief Justice John Rob- dard welcome for new
ly and often as he took his rules at issue before the That question sounded a erts. justices, wishing Gorsuch
seat on the Supreme Court court. He employed a bit of lot like the answer Gorsuch The justices sit by order “a long and happy career
bench for the first time to humor, expressed a modi- gave last month, when he of seniority, with the two in our common calling.”
hear arguments. cum of humility, showed a was pressed to defend an longest-serving members Gorsuch thanked his new
The new justice waited hint of irritation and even opinion he wrote against a of the court flanking the colleagues for their “warm
just 11 minutes before ask- channeled Justice Anto- fired trucker. “Senator, all I chief justice. The two new- welcome.”
ing questions in the first nin Scalia, the man he re- can tell you is my job is to est justices sit on either end He shared a laugh with his
of three cases the court placed, with a touch of apply the law you write,” of the bench. The justices seatmate, Justice Sonia
heard Monday, its first ses- sarcasm. “Wouldn’t it be he said then. had removed one chair Sotomayor, before argu-
sion since President Donald a lot easier if we just fol- While some of the other from the bench after Scalia ments began. q