A handful of College Republicans will give up three days of their Thanksgiving break and travel to Georgia next Friday to campaign for Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss.
The trip’s expenses–including travel, housing and food–are being paid for by the Republican National Committee said Brandon Hines, public relations director for the CRs. The trip is an attempt to save the seat after the Senate election was forced into runoff between Chambiss and the Democratic challenger, Jim Martin, after neither candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote.
Jake Wolfe, treasurer of the CRs, said it has been difficult to recruit GW Republicans to go to Georgia due to the timing. At the latest count, only five students have agreed to go on the free trip.
“I have had a lot of trouble recruiting people to try and give up their Thanksgiving break,” Wolfe said. “They would also be missing Monday and Tuesday of classes as well and it’s the last week of classes.”
Going to Georgia is one of many campaigning trips that members of the CRs have participated in this semester including trips to VA, Penn., Ohio, and Fla., however Wolfe said this trip is especially important.
“Speaking as a Republican, we just lost Alaska giving the Democrats 58 seats if you include Joe Lieberman and Bernie Sanders who are Independents,” said Wolfe. “And then with Minnesota, if Republicans end up losing that than 59 seats not counting Georgia. If we lost Georgia as well that would give Democrats 60 seats and the ability to end any filibuster that the Republicans tried to initiate.”