A local TV network in Georgia reports that Palin attracted fans from as far away as New Mexico to hear her stump for Sen. Saxby Chambliss in today’s run-off election, even though they can’t vote in Georgia.

It’s unknown how many out-of-towners were at these events or the total crowd size. The local outlet says Palin attracted a larger crowd yesterday than Chambliss did the day before. During the presidential campaign, Palin’s reported crowd numbers were inflated at times, embellishing her ability to draw astonishingly large crowds.

But the actual numbers don’t matter much. She may be drumming up more interest than the candidates in the race, as well as the multitude of other high-profile Republicans stumping for Chambliss. (CNN doesn’t have Mitt Romney on repeat today, for example.)

Will Palin be the GOP nominee in 2012? Lots can happen between now and then. But one things for certain, she’s not disappearing any time soon.

(Via Eric Kleefeld of TPM Election Central.)

As Kleefeld notes, this special election is all about jazzing up the base and getting out the vote. Polls are close right now, but since it’s an unusual election with just this seat up for grabs, it’s hard to gauge how many people will show up next Tuesday to vote.

One good point of reference, though, is the presidential election. The Obama campaign had hoped to pick up the long-time Republican stronghold, but even with a highly energized Democratic base, Sen. John McCain still won Georgia with 52 percent of the vote. 

I’ve written before that Palin’s appeal has been over-stated, as she was not able to deliver the base for McCain in key swing-states like Ohio, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Overall, she was probably a 2-point drag on the ticket.

Republicans did make up some ground in Appalachia and the deep South, so Palin might be helpful in rallying southern conservatives for Chambliss. It will be worth watching.

If Chambliss doesn’t pull off a win, that would put the Democrats just within reach, 59 seats, of a 60-seat, filibuster-proof majority. The Sen. Norm Coleman-Al Franken race in Minnesota has not been called yet. If Franken wins, that would deliver Democrats the 60th seat.