Incumbent Chambliss goes on the road to rally supporters

It’s a cold, wet day in the Republican heartland just south of Atlanta, and Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss and his troops are trying to rally the faithful in the face of withering economic headwinds and new polls that show his race with Democrat Jim Martin too close to call.

U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Grantville), Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine and Republican National Committeeman Alec Poitevint have joined Chambliss’ statewide 80-county bus tour this morning through Fayette and Coweta counties. They have one thing on their mind — getting GOP voters to the polls in large numbers to counter a Democratic groundswell.

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Hyosub Shin/hshin@ajc.com

Sen. Saxby Chambliss has a huge cash advantage over opponent Jim Martin, but his lead narrowed to a few points after he voted for the $700 billion national financial bailout.

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“We know that the people turning out [to vote] early are not voting for Saxby Chambliss and John McCain,” Chambliss tells about 60 supporters who meet the bus tour in downtown Newnan. “If we don’t turn out, it could be a sad night on Nov. 4.”

What should have been a rout has suddenly turned into a horse race for the job Chambliss won as an underdog six years ago from former Democratic U.S. Sen. Max Cleland. Polls show Chambliss, who has a huge cash advantage over Martin, leading by as few as two points. Some political Web sites rate the race a toss-up.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has been pouring money into the state for TV ads attacking Chambliss on the so-called “fair tax” and the $700 billion financial rescue package.

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama, meanwhile, is expected to swell the numbers of Democratic voters in Georgia. Democrats are on the march, and Republicans have begun to play defense.

Chambliss’ entourage offers red meat for the GOP supporters who meet the bus tour on this day.

“You ought to have the right to have the American Dream,” Poitevint tells the crowd in Fayetteville. “And Barack Obama wants to make sure you don’t.”

Cagle follows with a softer pitch.

“There is no individual I am more confident in than Saxby Chambliss,” Cagle said. “I have seen his character tested, and he has never wavered.”

Cagle then alludes to his three sons and what he believes this election means for their future.

“It’s all about the children,” he said.

There is some good news for Chambliss on the tour. Despite the horrible weather, the GOP faithful pack rooms at prenoon stops in Fayetteville, Peachtree City and Newnan.

At Peachtree City, Westmoreland warns about 100 people about the consequences of a Democratic landslide.

Democrats want a 60-vote, filibuster-proof majority in the Senate to advance their agenda, Westmoreland said, as he outlines the consequences for conservatives.

“We’re going to be on a fast freight train going downhill with no brakes,” Westmoreland tells the crowd.

The congressman encourages each person in the audience to call 10 people and have those 10 people call 10 people.

“Remember what Winston Churchill said, ‘Never, never, never give up,’ ” Westmoreland said.

One of those listening is Kathryn Nevin, an Atlanta music teacher who fears a Democratic landslide on Tuesday would move the country too far to the left.

“I’m calling my friends and trying to make sure they all vote,” Nevin said after the Peachtree City stop. “I’m at 27 and will try to call 50. I’m checking them off every day.”

Brant Frost IV, a Coweta County mortgage banker, met the bus tour in Newnan with his son.

“There’s a lot of passion and energy here,” Frost said.

“This is a bastion of Georgia values and people here feel an onslaught of liberalism from Obama and Martin. We see Saxby as our champion to guard against that,” he said.