Trump tells Georgia rally Ossoff 'was never elected' and repeats his $5,000 'Trump dividend' check pledge

Days after the final Senate debate, Trump rallied in Dalton on Friday, Oct. 16. He repeated false 2020 fraud claims, saying Jon Ossoff (Sen-D Georgia) "was never elected." Georgia certified Ossoff's January 2021 runoff win. About 1,200 people came out for Senate candidate Mike Collins (Rep-R Georgia) and governor nominee Rick Jackson, per the Guardian. Trump again promised a $5,000 "Trump dividend" check. He first pledged it on Sept. 9 to every adult citizen if Republicans keep the House and Senate. Only Congress can authorize the payments (PBS). The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget puts one round at $1.2 trillion, against tariff revenue of under $200 billion a year.

The state of the races:

• Ossoff leads by about 9 points, 52% to 43%, in the FiftyPlusOne polling average (Oct. 14); Trafalgar Group's Oct. 7–9 poll of 1,101 likely voters had him up 8.
• ABC rates the Senate race Likely Democrat and the governor's race a toss-up.
• Top GOP outside groups slowed or stopped spending in Georgia and North Carolina to shift money to Kansas and South Carolina (Politico).
• Jackson is largely funding his governor's race with his own money.