Chambliss, Martin defend attack ads in debate

U.S. Senate candidates Saxby Chambliss and Jim Martin moved their television ad wars to the debate floor Friday night in their next-to-last verbal sparring match before the Nov. 4 election.

Chambliss, the incumbent Republican senator seeking re-election, and Democratic challenger Martin have inundated metro Atlanta’s airwaves in recent weeks with dueling ads attacking each other on the economy and their recent political pasts.

In a Fox 5/WAGA-TV debate that also involved Libertarian Allen Buckley, Chambliss and Martin defended their attack ads when challenged by moderator Russ Spencer about specifics of the spots. The debate was taped Friday and airs at 7 p.m. Saturday on Fox 5.

Martin again tried to distance himself from a national Democratic Party ad blasting Chambliss for his support of the so-called “fair tax,” a national sales tax that would replace the income tax. The tax proposal is popular with many Georgia conservatives.

Chambliss said the ad is misleading, focusing on the sales tax without explaining that most other taxes that would be eliminated.

Martin described the ad as “unfortunate” because it takes the focus off of more important economic issues. But he defended the spot as “factually correct.” He said he cannot legally ask the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee to stop running it.

Chambliss, meanwhile, defended an attack ad by his campaign that highlights Martin’s 2003 resignation from the state Department of Human Resources. Martin resigned under pressure after two children died when they were returned to abusive homes.

Asked by Spencer if Chambliss thought Martin was personally responsible, Chambliss said he did not. But he stressed that Martin was in charge when the deaths occurred.

“This is a personal attack on me that’s inaccurate,” Martin said. “I call on you to take it down.”

To which Chambliss shot back: “You and I know what the facts are. You got fired. You had the opportunity to provide leadership, and you didn’t do it.”

Chambliss and Martin — former University of Georgia fraternity brothers — are locked in an increasingly bitter campaign that recent polls indicate is too close to call.

The under-funded Buckley, who does not have the money to run TV ads, once again alleged that neither Chambliss nor Martin will do anything to rein in runaway federal spending. The Libertarian proposed cutting federal programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and closing most foreign military bases.

“We have to cut entitlements for our economy to survive,” Buckley said.

Out-of-state money continued to flow into the race for both Martin and Chambliss, surpassing $3 million Friday when a fourth organization placed an order for television ads criticizing Chambliss.

National Democrats see the race as their chance to pick up a filibuster-proof, 60-vote majority. Republicans view it as must-hold position.

The group Patriot Majority on Friday placed a $478,475 order Friday for commercial airtime on three Atlanta TV stations for Martin ads. Also on Friday, the DSCC placed its fourth order for television ad time on behalf of Martin. The $220,000 order brings the Democratic committee’s investment in the Senate race,so far to $1,498,100.

Chambliss, meanwhile, is getting support from two groups, the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee and Freedom’s Watch, which so far, have ordered a combined $1 million on the race.

— Staff writer Ben Smith contributed to this story.