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DEL.ICIO.USBreak out the salt shaker: Dems say Martin is within 3 points of Chambliss
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
While the rest of the world was fixed on the bailout — er, rescue — vote, the campaign of Jim Martin released a poll that showed the Democrat within three points of Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss.
The official tally was Chambliss at 37 percent, Martin at 34 percent. Libertarian Allen Buckley was at 3 percent.
The survey was conducted by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Sept. 24-28. Margin of error is 4 percent. The DSCC is a prime source of funding for Martin — or at least he hopes it is — so caveat emptor.
Even so, this is the poll that Martin is putting under the noses of prospective contributors. And there may be some truth in it, simply because it doesn’t necessarily put Martin in the best of lights.
In August, right after the run-off, a DSCC poll put the race at Chambliss, 42 percent; Martin, 36 percent; and Buckley, 3 percent.
In other words, the Martin campaign is confessing that, nearly two months later, their fellow has dropped slightly — but not as much as Chambliss. And a tight race is a tight race, especially in a period of economic turmoil.
The Wall Street issue is likely to dominate the final five weeks of the campaign. Chambliss has a press conference and PDK airport tomorrow morning. The topic is all but assured.
The other two candidates attended a forum in John’s Creek, sponsored by State Farm Insurance.
Martin led off the discussion by taking a shot at Chambliss, after noting the two were fraternity brothers at the University of Georgia in the 1960s, according to my AJC colleague Jim Tharpe, who was there.
“This isn’t personal,” Martin told the audience of 200. But Chambliss has been wrong for “blindly supporting” President Bush’s economic policies, he said.
“I’m disgusted with the Bush administration’s handling of our economy over the last eight years and the crisis this mismanagement has caused,” Martin said. He said he opposes the current bailout plan unless it proves more regulation for financial institutions and safeguards against predatory lending.
Buckley, a CPA and a lawyer, agreed with Martin on Chambliss’s performance, but said the Democrats are no better when it comes to dealing with the nation’s spiraling debt burden and looming financial problems. He said those problems will only multiply as Baby Boomers age and take advantage of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security benefits.
“If there was ever a time in history you should consider a third party, it is now,” Buckley said. He added: “Jim (Martin) is a great guy, but he would just be another one of those Democrats in Congress.”
Buckley wants to close most overseas military bases, limit entitlements and get rid of the U.S. Department of Education.
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Comments
By Tom Ga Hunter
September 29, 2008 6:22 PM | Link to this
Jim Martin just won’t shut up with his negative attacks. I wish the man would give me one good reason to vote for him, other than because he hates Saxby. This is not a reason to send someone to the United States Senate.
Saxby was in Washington today, working on the critical issues facing our nation. I think he is doing a great job and I am proud that he represents Georgia with such distinction!
By OODA
September 29, 2008 6:31 PM | Link to this
Let’s see, Chambliss (R) gets 37%, Martin (D) gets 34% and Allen Buckley (L) gets 3%. What happened to the remaining 26%? I think I like the last SurveyUSA poll that had the Libertarian candidate at 8%. If this election is really all about change, then go for big change. Toss Saxby Chambliss out and send Allen Buckley (L) to the senate. That’ll shake things up.
By Bobby
September 29, 2008 7:28 PM | Link to this
I haven’t heard any negative ads from Jim Martin. He has been fairly straight forward. What do you find negative in Martin’s statements?
By RJ
September 29, 2008 11:32 PM | Link to this
By Tom Ga Hunter… Saxby Chambliss has given you more than three reasons to vote for Martin; (1) his support of Bush’s economic policies, (2) his support of amnesty for illegals, (3) the Farm Bill,(4)lack of influence to save one military base recomended for closure.
Anyone who truly possess conservative values cannot embrace a political party. A true conservative does not reward poor performance.
By Ectoras
September 30, 2008 4:51 AM | Link to this
Jim Martin and his negative attacks? How about how Chambliss lied Max Cleland out of office in 2002? Chambliss is a thug and a liar and deserves to go down.
By Tom Ga Hunter
September 30, 2008 6:48 AM | Link to this
Churchill has stole my name again, what can you expect from someone who has flunked the 8th grade in Clayton county 3 times.Here is why I am voting against Saxby Special Interest Chambliss & his Lobbyist son.
Where Saxby Chambliss gets his money::
Agri Business—-$1,368,000 Banks, Insurance, Real Estate—-$1,332,000 Lawyers & Individual Lobbyist——$641,000 Misc Business —-$679,000 Other ——$606,000..
The Agi Business got a gift of $20 billion waste from Saxby’s Farm Bill. The Banks, Real Estate & Lawyers just got a $2 TRILLION gift from the Bail Out the Banks act which Saxby & Johnny support. Not a bad return on your money.
Source:http://www.opensecrets.org/politicia…&cid=N00002685
By Bo Chambliss LOBBYIST
September 30, 2008 6:55 AM | Link to this
Saxby Chambliss has turned a blind eye to hardworking every-day Georgians who are struggling to stay afloat in tough economic times.
This week, we hear from Twiggs County farmer George Rouse. Skyrocketing costs on everything from groceries to gas to health care are making it harder than ever for George, and millions of other Georgians, to get by. Food prices have almost doubled since 2005 [Source: ERS/USDA]. The price of gas has more than tripled since Saxby was elected to the Senate [Source: Energy Information Administration]. But unfortunately, Saxby is just too busy helping out his lobbyist and special interest pals to help out hard-working Georgians who deserve a fair shake from Washington.
We need a Senator in Washington to fight for George Rouse and folks like him, not the special interests and lobbyists.
When it comes to looking out for Georgia’s working families, Saxby looked the other way:
No help for farmers and ranchers. Chambliss voted against assistance to farmers and ranchers making less than $750,000 a year and a program that would have helped train and encourage the next generation of American farmers and ranchers. [Vote #426, 12/13/07].
No help for working families either. And while prices for food, housing, health care and other necessities have gone up, Chambliss voted multiple times against raising the minimum wage [Vote #179, 6/21/06, Vote #26, 3/7/05]
Meanwhile, Saxby has worked hard to get things done for his friends on Wall Street.
Yes to rewarding companies that send American jobs to China, India, and other countries. In 2004, Chambliss voted against closing up $39 billion in tax breaks for companies that outsource their jobs. [Vote 90, 5/11/04] In 2005, Chambliss voted against against repealing tax incentives for domestic companies that move their manufacturing plants out of the U.S. [Vote 63, 3/17/05] He even gave those same companies a tax cut. In 2003, Chambliss voted to cut taxes on U.S. companies’ overseas income from 35% to 5.25%. [Vote 165, 5/15/03]
Won’t hold U.S. companies accountable if they deal with terrorists. Chambliss even voted against an amendment that makes U.S. businesses liable for dealing with foreign businesses that have links to terrorism. [Vote 203, 7/26/05]
By Ga Minuteman
September 30, 2008 6:59 AM | Link to this
Saxby with his good friends on immigration.. If he’s back we will have amnesty for all ILLEGALS next year. McCain says COUNTRY FIRST, SAXBY says LOBBYIST(especially Bo Chambliss) FIRST.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK5TprmkgRw&feature=related
By Athens_Gator
September 30, 2008 8:00 AM | Link to this
Go Saxby! Go! You’re a true conservative.
I am a conservative because we all can’t be on welfare!
Liberty and Freedom; two words you will not hear cross Obama’s lips.
By Athens_Gator
September 30, 2008 8:02 AM | Link to this
Go Saxby! Go! You’re a true conservative.
I am a conservative because we all can’t be on welfare!
Liberty and Freedom; two words you will not hear cross Obama’s lips.
By Athens_Gator
September 30, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this
Go Saxby! Go! You’re a true conservative.
I am a conservative because we all can’t be on welfare!
Liberty and Freedom; two words you will not hear cross Obama’s lips.
By G H Bush
September 30, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this
I will not be voting for Saxby this time. He is TOO close to Lobbyist & the liberal Democrats. He personally got the Republican votes that let Pelosi,Reid, Kerry, Kennedy & Boxer over ride President Bush’s veto of waste & unnecessary waste 3 times. My vote is going to Allen Buckley a real CONSERVATIVE. Here is his web site : http://www.buckleyforsenate.com/welcome.asp
By Churchill
September 30, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this
Athens_Gator & I are up here smoking a little weed & he has got confused. Saxby is a Big Soending, Big Government, Pro Amnesty Liberal. Saxby is a draft dodger that has voted to cut spending on VA Hospitals..Net Net Saxby & his Lobbyist Son are slime.
By Winder Bob
September 30, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this
Last year Saxby decides to work with a bunch of LIBERAL democrats to give a bunch of Illegals AMNESTY. We all yelled and Saxby changed his mind. This year Saxby works with a bunch of LIBERAL Democrats to put a windfall tax on oil. We are yelling but Saxby is listening to lobbyist not the voter. If Saxby has not backed off the Oil Tax by the end of the month I am voting for a real conservative Allen Buckley. You just have to wonder what Saxby will work out with the LIBERAL Democrats next year & what he does when we are not watching.
By Conservative Republican
September 30, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this
For the last 5 years I have been writing Saxby Chambliss to get out of the Lobbyist back pocket but he has only gotten worse as time goes on, Chambliss has been is Washington for 14 years & has drank too much of the Kool aid up there. I am voting for a real conservative Allen Buckley. Check him out…http://www.buckleyforsenate.com/welcome.asp
By Teo
September 30, 2008 6:46 PM | Link to this
Saxby needs to go. The government and the economic sysytem is about to collapse and all of a sudden he has no responsibility with that?I wish we could change the entire senate as this current one proved to be watching out for special interest groups not the people of United States.