As Warnock campaigned on protecting democracy,integrity and the importance of good character;the anti-abortion,anti-trans rights Walker stood on a platform of social conservatism. The 60-year-old decorated NFL star,who is making his first bid for public office,was forced to fend off multiple scandals,including domestic violence allegations and claims that he quietly paid an ex-girlfriend to terminate a pregnancy,which he denies.

Warnock,Georgia’s first black senator insists his opponent is ill-qualified and “not fit” for office.

By Thursday AEDT,Warnock enjoyed the slimmest of leads over Walker,but a third candidate,Libertarian Chase Oliver,meant neither man has being able to claim more than 50 per cent of the vote,the threshold required under Georgia’s unique electoral laws.

Anything less means the two must face another four weeks of campaigning before a run-off election on December 6.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger confirmed the pre-Christmas ballot on Wednesday,in what will be unwelcome news for the election-fatigued public,saturated by fierce television,radio and text message campaigning for weeks.

Both republicans and Democrats consider the state critical to their chances of holding the Senate. For President Joe Biden,it could have major implications for whether he can advance his agenda.

Republican Atlanta local James Rakestraw said he was prepared to return to the ballot box after the Thanksgiving holiday because he was committed to supporting Walker,no matter the allegations against him.

“He loves his country and he has always wanted to achieve things people say he could not achieve. and therefore he may have no political experience but I think he would stand for us[in Georgia].”

It will be Warnock’s second run-off in as many years. He faced an equivalent challenge in 2020 but eventually claimed victory against conservative Kelly Loeffler,turning the red southern state Senate seat blue for the first time in two decades.

At the Marriott Marquis hotel in downtown Atlanta,the mood among supporters was one of cautious optimism. A marquee sign read simply “Warnock”,while a DJ spun R&B and hip hop favourites. The dancing would start early,with the room feeling less like a watch party to determine the future of the US Senate and more like a nightclub.

Warnock would finally emerge before 2am for those still standing:“Whether it’s later tonight or tomorrow or four weeks from now,we will hear from the people of Georgia,” he said.