Georgia Senate debate: Addressing an empty podium, Democrat Jon Ossoff blasts an absent Senator David Perdue

Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff blistered his Republican opponent, Senator David Perdue, for skipping the first of two runoff debates on Sunday, doubling down on accusations of financial corruption against the incumbent.

While the Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission have not charged Mr Perdue with any crimes for buying and selling stocks related to public health amid the coronavirus pandemic, Mr Ossoff has used the senator’s personal financial portfolio against him on the campaign trail.

“David Perdue has been getting rich in office. And instead of taking public health expertise and guidance from the CDC and getting that to the people, and implementing policy, he was buying up shares and manufacturers of vaccines and medical equipment,” Mr Ossoff said on Sunday, opposite an empty podium representing the absent Mr Perdue.

“He's not here because he's afraid he may incriminate himself in this debate,” Mr Ossoff said.

Control of both Georgia Senate seats will be decided by 5 January runoffs after no candidates in either race cleared the 50 per cent threshold in the general election in November.

Mr Ossoff and Democrat Raphael Warnock must both beat Mr Perdue and GOP Senator Kelly Loeffler, respectively, for Democrats to reclaim a Senate majority.

Absentee voting has already begun in the Peach State, and early voting begins on 14 December, a point Mr Ossoff underscored more than a dozen times in the 27 minutes he spent answering moderators’ questions on Sunday.

Mr Perdue’s absence from the debate stage allowed his Democratic opponent to assail his record as a senator without any significant pushback.

“I regret that someone who is supposed to be a public servant didn't join us. I truly regret that we haven't had the opportunity to debate the issues, because the people deserve it,” Mr Ossoff said in his closing remarks.

“It shows an astonishing arrogance and sense of entitlement for Georgia's senior US senator to believe he shouldn't have to debate at a moment like this in our history,” Mr Ossoff said.

Mr Ossoff hit Mr Perdue for opposing the $1,200 stimulus checks American taxpayers received early on in the pandemic, and blamed the GOP senator for partisan gridlock in Congress that has prevented lawmakers from reaching another deal on more Covid-19 relief.

Asked whether he would endorse a nationwide lockdown if the pandemic rages out of control this winter, Mr Ossoff said he would take his “cues” from public health officials at the CDC.

He espoused liberal views on climate change and health care, linchpin issues for his campaign.

Mr Perdue only tweeted once from his campaign account during the debate, pictures of him at a campaign stop with his brother, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue.

A spokesman for Mr Perdue’s campaign has told media outlets there was no need for another debate after Mr Ossoff “lied repeatedly” at their first showdown in October before the 3 November general election.

Mr Perdue beat Mr Ossoff 49.7-47.9 per cent in the general election, but Georgia election laws require that Senate candidates garner a majority to win outright. Otherwise, the top two candidates enter a runoff.

In his first major public event since losing the 2020 election last month, Donald Trump flew to the Peach State on Saturday to rally Republican voters for Mr Perdue and Ms Loeffler.

The president’s visit came amid concerns among GOP strategists that his baseless complaints of election fraud is suppressing voter enthusiasm in the Georgia Senate battles that will determine control of the upper chamber.

During his stump speech at the rally on Sunday, Mr Trump repeated his false claim that he won Georgia. Three recounts have determined Joe Biden the victor in the state.

Mr Trump  appeared to recognise that his days in the White House are numbered, saying he would “take it easy” in Florida if he must leave.

While he was there ostensibly to urge his supporters to turn out for Mr Perdue and Ms Loeffler in January, Mr Trump often meandered into personal grievances about the election outcome.

As the president wrapped up his remarks he said of his political prospects: “We will never, ever surrender.”