Loeffler, Perdue Lead Democratic Challengers by 5 Points Among Suburban Voters: Poll

In Georgia's Senate runoff races, GOP Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue lead their Democratic challengers by 5 points among suburban voters, according to a new poll.

The poll, which was conducted by Emerson College, has 52 percent of suburban voters saying they'd vote for Perdue, compared with 47 percent for opponent Jon Ossoff.

Loeffler, who is facing Democrat Raphael Warnock in the runoffs, also leads by 5 points, as 52 percent of suburban voters said they'd vote for her while 47 percent support Warnock.

The race between Loeffler and Warnock is considered a special election because the incumbent Republican was appointed by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp after Johnny Isakson resigned before his term ended.

Emerson College surveyed 605 likely runoff voters from December 14 to 16 and reported a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.

In surveying different geographic areas in Georgia, the poll found both Republicans ahead among rural voters, while Ossoff and Warnock received more support among those living in urban/city areas.

Among rural voters, 67 percent said they plan to vote for Perdue, while 33 percent backed Ossoff. Similarly, in the special election, 68 percent of rural voters said they plan on voting for Loeffler, and 32 percent chose Warnock.

On the other hand, the poll found 73 percent of urban/city voters plan to vote for Ossoff, while 25 percent chose Perdue. Two percent of urban/city voters said they were undecided. Seventy-five percent of urban/city voters chose Warnock as their preferred candidate, compared with 25 percent that said they'd vote for Loeffler.

The poll's findings come less than a month before the runoffs. The outcome of these January 5 elections will decide which political party controls the U.S. Senate next year.

Across all respondents surveyed, the poll found both Perdue and Loeffler were ahead by 3 points, as they both received 51 percent, compared with 48 percent for Ossoff and Warnock.

On Tuesday, President-elect Joe Biden traveled to Atlanta to support the Warnock and Ossoff campaigns. He told voters that they voted as though their "lives depended on it" during the presidential election and now they're "going to have to do it again."

"It's time to stand up and take back our democracy," Biden told supporters at a drive-in rally. "Send me these two men and we will control the Senate, and we'll change the lives of the people of Georgia."

Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to appear at two "Defend the Majority" rallies on Thursday in Columbus and Macon to show support for Loeffler and Perdue. President Donald Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., will hold a rally on Friday in Irwin County.

Newsweek reached out to the Perdue, Loeffler, Ossoff and Warnock campaigns for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.