Runoff for Senate seat could make Georgia ‘center of the universe’

The already high-profile battle for the Georgia U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Saxby Chambliss could move up a few notches if none of the three candidates gets a majority of votes Nov. 4.

There is always the possibility of a runoff in a three-way political contest. But the race between Chambliss, Democrat Jim Martin and Libertarian Allen Buckley carries an unusual dynamic in an election year when national Democrats are trying to cement a filibuster-proof 60-vote “super majority” in the U.S. Senate.

Some political observers believe Democrats could be close to that margin after the Nov. 4 balloting. And if the Georgia race is thrown into a four-week runoff, the national political spotlight will shine brightly on the state, no matter who becomes president.

Democrats and Republicans will almost certainly pour money and time into Georgia under that scenario. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has already pumped more than $500,000 into television ads attacking Chambliss.

“This becomes the center of the universe for the next four weeks if Georgia is the 60th seat,” said University of Georgia political scientist Charles Bullock said Wednesday. “You’ll have Barack Obama campaigning here. You’ll have Sarah Palin campaigning here.”

There are only a few polls in the race, but most show it tightening as the election nears — polls show Chambliss with a 6-point lead to dead-even with Martin.

A Dec. 2 runoff would be required if neither candidate gets a majority of the vote.

An under-funded Buckley could have a major impact on the race if he draws more than 3 percent of the vote and Chambliss and Martin run neck-and-neck, with neither breaking 50 percent. Buckley pulled 2.1 percent of the vote in his last Senate bid in 2004.

Both Martin’s and Chambliss’ campaigns on Wednesday dismissed the idea of a runoff as they both push for an outright win,

“We’re focused on Nov. 4,” said Chambliss spokeswoman Michelle Grasso. “Our goal is to win on Nov. 4, regardless of Libertarian turnout or early voting.”

Martin spokesman Ellery Gould expressed similar sentiments for the Democrats.

“We think Georgia voters are ready to reject Saxby Chambliss, and we expect to win outright on Nov. 4,” Gould said.

The head of the DSCC, meanwhile, appeared to try to lower expectations for a super majorty in recent comments in “Politico,” an online political magazine.

“As for 60 (Senate seats), it is possible,” said U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-New York) “You can look at the map yourself. But given the red terrain we’re fighting in, it’s very difficult. And I don’t want people to get such high expectations, because it’s hard to win in states like Georgia or Mississippi. It is. And we need some of those states to win.”