Sen. Warnock takes lead over Herschel Walker with boost from Obama as Georgia run off goes down to wire

Sen. Raphael Warnock has edged into the lead over Herschel Walker in their crucial Georgia Senate runoff as former President Obama hit the Republican challenger with some potent zingers.

A new poll Friday gave Democrat Warnock 52% support compared to 48% for Walker as voters waited in hours-long lines on the final day of early voting ahead of the Tuesday runoff.

More than 1.4 million people have already cast ballots in the runoff, a total that Democrats hope will give Warnock a significant cushion heading into the in-person voting on Dec. 6.

President Biden on Friday was set to join a union phone bank in Boston helping Warnock’s campaign, before appearing at a fundraiser for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Warnock’s campaign has asked Biden to stay away from the physical campaign trail in Georgia itself because he remains unpopular despite a better-than-expected Democratic performance in the midterms last month.

Walker, who has been dogged by a series of scandals, likewise told former President Donald Trump to keep his distance because the blustering MAGA leader energizes Democrats and independents as much as Republicans.

There are no such worries about Obama, who six years after leaving office remains the most popular major political figure in the country.

The nation’s first and only Black president played comedian-in-chief at a rally with Warnock Thursday night where he repeatedly mocked Walker.

Obama called out Walker for lying about playing basketball with him although the two men have never met. He also ridiculed the retired football great for musing on the campaign trail about whether it’s better to be a werewolf or a vampire in a horror movie.

“This is a debate that I must confess I once had myself. When I was 7 [years old],” Obama said, drawing laughter. “Then I grew up.”

Warnock beat Walker by about 37,000 votes out of almost 4 million cast in the general election but fell short of the 50% majority required under Georgia law.

Statewide early voting data mostly shows higher overall turnout in the most heavily Democratic counties and congressional districts.

But the GOP claims its voters will turn out in bigger numbers on Tuesday to deliver the seat to Walker.

Democrats have already wrapped up control of the Senate because they have won 50 seats and Vice President Kamala Harris can cast a tie-breaking vote.

They hope Warnock can win to give them a cushion, especially heading into a 2024 race in which three Democratic incumbents are running for reelection in states Trump won twice.

Warnock holds a significant cash advantage, mostly because many of the outside conservative groups that have boosted Walker are not spending as much on the runoff with control of the Senate no longer on the line.