McCain drops in on Chambliss-Martin race

National Republicans continued Wednesday to paint incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss as the only thing standing between the Democratic Party and a filibuster-proof majority in the upper chamber.

U.S. Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, appeared with Chambliss at his Cobb County headquarters, a day before U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) comes to town to stump for the Moultrie lawmaker.

“Saxby and this race may well end up being the firewall against the 60-vote majority the Democrats are trying to achieve,” Ensign told reporters on a conference call before a news conference by the two senators.

Ensign took a shot at Chambliss’ opponent, Atlanta Democrat Jim Martin, when the Nevada lawmaker accused the incoming class of U.S. senators of being among the most liberal ever elected.

“Jim Martin would be another liberal voice to join that group in Washington, D.C.,” Ensign said.

Martin and Chambliss are locked in a tight Dec. 2 runoff that has attracted national attention. Democrats now control 57 Senate seats, with only unresolved contests in Georgia, Minnesota and Alaska standing in the path of a Democratic supermajority.

Martin on Wednesday praised McCain, but criticized Chambliss for bringing in Republican top guns to boost his chances.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will come to Georgia for Chambliss on Sunday.

“John McCain is a great American,” Martin said at a news conference at the state Capitol. “And he served his country with distinction. All Georgians know that.”

But, Martin said, Georgia voters need a senator who will work with President-elect Barack Obama, not fight him.

“You can bring in all the political leaders of the past, like Saxby Chambliss is to shore up his position, but truthfully, it’s the old politics. We’re moving forward, and are taking our message to voters,” Martin said.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, meanwhile, has purchased a week’s worth of ads on metro Atlanta television stations for Martin.

Chambliss, standing with Ensign, predicted Democrats will spend “millions and millions on the airwaves to try to discredit me.”

“The Democrats are going to try to buy this race,” Chambliss said. Neither Chambliss nor Ensign, however, would say how much the GOP plans to spend on the runoff. Democrats have been equally evasive about how much they plan to spend.

Martin said there continues to be no word from Obama about a potential visit to the state before Dec. 2. He said his campaign is moving forward with the same plan as the primary, the primary runoff and the general election: appeal to middle class voters that he will be a voice for them in Washington.

The runoff, a monthlong sprint that has yet to be officially announced by the secretary of state, is expected to be expensive for both parties. University of Georgia political scientist Charles Bullock has estimated it could cost $5 million-plus.

“We spent a lot and we need a lot more,” Martin said. “We’ll spend whatever resources we have.”

Before speaking with reporters, Martin spoke to a gathering of state House Democrats. He thanked them for their support and asked for their help.

Rep. Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus), who was leading the meeting, called on his colleagues to open their wallets, too.

“Let’s stand with Jim,” Smyre said and urged them all to “cut some checks.”