Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss Wins Re-election in Runoff
ATLANTA — Georgia’s seemingly endless U.S. Senate campaign drew to a finish on Tuesday with Republican U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss claiming victory in a race that will sway the balance of power in Washington.
Chambliss faced Democrat Jim Martin in an extra innings campaign that drew national political heavyweights from both parties. The runoff between the former University of Georgia fraternity brothers was necessary after a three-way general election prevented any of the candidates from getting the necessary 50 percent.
What was at stake was significant: Democrats in the U.S. Senate are just two votes shy of the 60 needed to block Republican filibusters — a key bid for power that would be immensely helpful as a Democrat heads to the White House for the first time in a decade.
Georgia is one of the two unresolved Senate races. In Minnesota, a recount is under way in a tight race between Republican Sen. Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken. The ballots must be tallied by Friday but the contest could stretch beyond that with a five-member board gathering beginning Dec. 16 to rule on ballot challenges.
Elections officials reported steady to light turnout since polls opened at 7 a.m., and no problems throughout the day. Polls closed at 7 p.m. A spokesman for Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel predicted turnout would be between 18 and 20 percent, far less than the 65 percent who voted in last month’s general election.
Chambliss and Martin each spent much of the day with family. They were scheduled to attend rallies with supporters after watching early returns.
Murray Gottlieb, 54, a caterer in Savannah, said he voted for Chambliss because he doesn’t want complete Democratic control of the Senate.