In Georgia, Palin Stumps For Chambliss « The Washington Independent
Most folks around the country have had a few privileged weeks to recover from the drone of election-year politics. Not in Georgia, where tomorrow’s run-off vote will decide whether one-term GOP Sen. Saxby Chambliss can make it two. And the big guns are out — at least on the Republican side.
Sen. John McCain visited the state a few weeks ago to stump for Chambliss, and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin joined the effort today:
“„In the months and the years ahead in Washington and in every state capital, we must build our case for reform of government with actions and not just words. And thankfully, Saxby has built a record of real achievement in service to his state and to his country. And that’s exactly the kind of man we need in Washington.
Presumedly, Palin was referring to actions other than Chambliss equating a Vietnam War hero with Osama bin Laden, the multiple deferments that kept himself from that war, or his more recent defense of a sugar-company (which also happens to be a large campaign contributor) following a deadly refinery fire.
But of course there’s much more at stake here than just Chambliss’s career.
In the wake of November’s elections, Democrats control 58 Senate seats, including those held by the two independents who caucus with Democrats. If they could pull the Georgia seat from Chambliss, Democrats would be that much closer to a filibuster-proof 60-member majority. (Minnesota, which is in the middle of recounting votes after a tight Senate race, could be no. 60).
Indeed, Chambliss, Palin and other Republicans are framing the Georgia election as a kind-of last stand against a single-party dictatorship.
“We need Saxby because we need checks and balances in Washington,” Palin said. “And we will not have that if Saxby is not reelected, Georgia.”
Chambliss has a lead of 3-5 percent in the polls, according to The L.A. Times. Thirty hours from now we’ll know how accurate they were.
