Washington Bureau

Georgia Senate race draws political celebrities

Down in Georgia these days, the long political season is coming close to an end.

Advanced voting started today for the Dec. 2 runoff between Republican incumbent Sen. Saxby Chambliss and Democrat Jim Martin.

Chambliss took 49.8 percent of the vote. In Georgia, a candidate must receive 50 percent of the vote or else the election goes to a runoff election.

The seat is important to both parties. Democrats are hoping for a 60-vote majority to block filibusters. Republicans, of course, want to hold onto every seat they can. The Democrats have 58 seats and races Minnesota and Georgia have yet to be decided.

As a result, the Peach State has been a veritable who’s who of the political scene.

The three men who duked it out to be the Republican presidential nominee - Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee – have all campaigned for Chambliss.

On the other side of the aisle, former President Bill Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore have campaigned in the state for Martin.

And there’s more political celebrities are lined up to campaign. Tomorrow, Gore's presidential campaign manager Donna Brazille will campaign for Martin and Former New York City Mayor Rudy Guiliani will stump for Chambliss in Woodstock. Gov. Sonny Perdue and former Sen. Zell Miller will campaign for Chambliss Wednesday in Gainesville.

President-elect Barack Obama has not visited Georgia on behalf of Martin, but cut a radio ad urging voters to get out to the polls and vote for him.

A poll from Ramussen Reports last week shows Chambliss ahead 50 percent to 46 percent. Four percent were undecided.

-- Amy Dominello
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