It was a chilly evening in Atlanta Monday night, but that didn't deter supporters of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jim Martin from rallying on the steps of the State Capitol a day before the closely-watched run-off election between Martin and Republican Saxby Chambliss.

"We need at least one U.S. Senator who is a Democrat and works for us in Washington," state Democratic Party Chair Jane Kidd told the crowd.  "All we have is 24 hours to get the job done."

Accompanying Kidd on the stage was a who's who of political leaders, radio personalities and hip-hop artists --including Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth and Michigan Congressman John Conyers-- all encouraged Democrats to get out the vote for Jim Martin.

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Former Massachusetts Governor and 2008 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney was in Georgia last week stumping for Saxby Chambliss in the days before the December 2nd run-off to decide Georgia's hotly contested Senate race.

In an Atlanta rally featuring about 200 supporters of Chambliss, Romney said that Georgia's upcoming run-off Senate election was a choice on whether we "want to change America."

This election is about whether we want to change America. And I want to keep America America," [Romney]said to applause.

"I think in this race you have two different men who have two different views. One [Jim Martin] would take America down the course of becoming like Europe, big taxes and big government," said Romney. Chambliss, he said, "fundamentally believes in keeping America strong and safe and free."

[Source:  Macon Telegraph, "Romney ties Martin, Democrats to socialism", November 22, 2008]

While he admitted that Americans voted for change in Washington earlier this month, Romney maintained that the election of Jim Martin to the U.S. Senate could put the United States on a path to socialism.

"I want to make sure we don't take a left turn toward Europe," Romney said.

Just a quick note, looking at a map, one has to make a right turn to get to Europe.  I just needed to clear that up.

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Bumped - Todd

In a new ad released today, Jim Martin responds to Saxby Chambliss' false, personal attacks on Martin's record protecting children.  The truth is that Jim Martin has always fought to protect children and families, because he knows what it's like to have a child come face-to-face with violent crime.  

"Becky"

Martin's daughter Becky was kidnapped when she was eight years old.  Fortunately she was let go, but Martin never forgot the way Becky trembled when she came face-to-face with her kidnapper in court. Over his 18-year tenure in the state legislature and during his service as Commissioner of Georgia's Department of Human Resources, Martin built a reputation as a leading advocate for children.

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Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Robert M. "Mike" Duncan and Co-Chair Jo Ann Davidson will make several campaign stops in Georgia on Monday, November 24 and Tuesday, November 25 to benefit Senator Saxby Chambliss as he battles Democrat Jim Martin in advance of the December 2nd run-off election.

The announcement that the RNC Chair will hit the trail for Chambliss comes a day after former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney paid a visit to Atlanta to urge voters to keep the two-party system alive in the nation's capital [Source:  Atlanta Journal Constitution, "Romney visits Atlanta to stump for Chambliss", November 21, 2008].

Also, next week, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is scheduled to make a campaign appearance in the Peach State on behalf of Saxby Chambliss [Source:  WSB Radio, "Chambliss Win 'Essential'", November 21, 2008].

Meanwhile, on the Democratic side, former Vice President Al Gore will hold an Atlanta fundraiser for Jim Martin Sunday evening.

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