Sen. Chambliss Thanks Backers for Their Efforts

Sen. Saxby Chambliss, who celebrated with supporters last evening in Atlanta following his victory in the run-off race with Jim Martin, sent out the following message a day after the election.


Greetings!

The day we have been working so hard for has finally arrived! Last night we showed the rest of the country that the conservative movement is still alive!

This victory would not have been possible without all of your hard work. Julianne and I were humbled and honored to have so many people working with us for victory.

With this historic victory behind us, we need to rebuild the party and get back to our principles that made us so great.

I will fight for smaller government, lower taxes, and individual freedoms, because that is what you sent me to Washington to do.

Thank you all for helping us achieve 57% of the vote in Georgia! I appreciate the hard campaign that my opponent ran, and wish him the best.

Now we need to focus on the future, and ensure that the America we know and love remains the free, safe, and secure country for our children and grandchildren.

Again, from the bottom of my heart I thank you for helping us achieve victory!

Thank you for your continued support and prayers.

UPDATE: Chambliss Retains Senate Seat

Georgia Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss is headed back to Washington after winning the state's run-off election against Democratic challenger Jim Martin.

With just over 90 percent of the precincts reporting this evening, Chambliss, 65, held a 58 percent to 42 percent lead over Martin.

The win prevents Democrats from gaining a 60-seat majority in the Senate which would have prevented Republican filibusters.

The state of Minnesota is still up for grabs in the recount between Republican incumbent Norm Coleman and Democratic challenger Al Franken. Even if Democrats were to win that seat, they would fall one short of 60 seats in the senate.

Voters Back to the Polls to Decide Senate Race

If it seems like you just did this a month ago, you're right.

Voters return to the polls today to hopefully bring an end to the U.S. Senate race between Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss and Democractic challenger Jim Martin.

In last month's election, Chambliss fell just short of the 50 percentile needed for victory, therefore creating today's run-off.

While turnout will likely be less than on Nov. 4, both sides are fighting hard for the seat. Republicans want to hold on to the seat to prevent Democrats from gaining the magical 60 mark in the Senate where they could stop GOP filibustrers.

The polls are open until 7 p.m.

Palin Campaigning for Chambliss in Runoff Race

Alaska Governor and former Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin is in town today to campaign for Senator Saxby Chambliss. The Republican senator is in a runoff with Democratic challenger Jim Martin.

Palin was slated to make four stops for Chambliss, starting off in Augusta. Palin is scheduled to make an appearance at the Gwinnett Center at 4 p.m.

Both Chambliss and Martin are in a runoff after neither managed to cross the 50 percent margin in the Nov. 4 general election.

Republicans hope to hold onto the seat as Democrats inch closer to the 60 votes they would need to prevent Republican filibusters.

Palin to Campaign for Chambliss in Senate Battle

Alaska Governor and former Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin will campaign this coming week in Georgia for Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R), who is fighting to hold on to his Senate seat.

"I was thrilled when I got the call that Gov. Palin would be able to make the trip to Georgia to campaign with me the day before the runoff election," Chambliss said in a statement.

Palin will attend a fundraiser Sunday night and then appear at multiple campaign stops Monday in hopes of rallying the GOP base.

Chambliss won a plurality of the vote on Election Day three weeks ago, but state law mandates the winner to grab 50 percent plus one vote.

As a result of the inclusion of a third-party candidate, Chambliss fell just shy of that threshold, forcing a runoff between him and Democratic challenger Jim Martin.