Here in Georgia, incumbent Republican Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler supported the meager $600 covid-relief payment to millions of Americans. They released a joint statement Sunday night thanking the president for finally approving the stimulus funds, avoiding the fact that Mr. Trump plunged the fate of the bill into turmoil last week by calling it “a disgrace” and demanding that direct payments be increased to $2,000.

By Tuesday, caught in a tenuous position with Mr. Trump’s demand and facing direct pressure from Democratic candidates Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock, the two Republican candidates flip-flopped and announced that they now support larger checks.

“I’m delighted to support the president in this $2,000,” Mr. Perdue said on Fox News on Tuesday morning.  “Help is on the way,” Senator Kelly Loeffler tweeted Monday morning, applauding the stimulus package with its billions of dollars for vaccine distribution, schools and other beneficiaries.

For many Americans, this is the financial reality they're facing: