SENATE RUNOFF: McCain rallies the GOP

Georgia Republicans proved Thursday they still know how to pack a room. But it will be Dec. 2 before they show whether they still know how to win a tough statewide election.

More than 2,000 people showed up Thursday afternoon to see U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center as McCain rallied the GOP faithful for U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Moultrie, who is in a tough runoff battle with Democrat Jim Martin of Atlanta.

It was McCain’s first political appearance since his loss last week to President-elect Barack Obama. He chose a state that he carried by 200,000 votes to reappear before the television news cameras —- there were more than 20 —- and a gaggle of local, state and national media at the event.

McCain and his fellow Republicans are trying keep Democrats from getting a 60-vote, filibuster-proof majority in the upper chamber. Unresolved Senate races in Georgia, Alaska and Minnesota could provide Democrats with that majority.

“I did not think I would be back on the campaign trail quite this early,” McCain said. “But there is a lot at stake here. I’m asking you to go into battle one more time.

“The eyes of the country and the world will be on the state of Georgia Dec. 2.”

McCain never mentioned Obama’s name during his 12-minute speech, in which he joked about his election defeat. McCain said someone recently asked him how he’s doing.

“I told him I sleep like a baby,” McCain said. “I wake up every two hours and cry.”

When Chambliss first used the words “President-elect Barack Obama,” the partisan crowd booed loudly.

“Let me say, I will pray for him every day, just as I’ve prayed for every other president,” Chambliss said. Chambliss, however, warned that a Democratic supermajority would unleash a rash of “liberal” initiatives.

“The race looks like it could be the firewall,” Chambliss said.

Chambliss and Martin are desperately trying to get voters to return to the polls the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. They both know it will be no easy task, given the holidays and voter-fatigue from the just-ended presidential election.

Martin has enlisted Obama’s ground troops across the state to get voters fired up for the extended campaign. He also has invited Obama to come to Georgia, but there was no confirmation of a visit as of Thursday. So far, Martin’s runoff effort has been a low-key sprint.

Chambliss, meanwhile, has lined up a series of big-name Republicans to come to the Peach State for his campaign. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will campaign for Chambliss on Sunday in Gwinnett County. U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) showed up at Thursday’s event, as did Chambliss’ fellow Georgia Republican, U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson. And former Gov. and U.S. Sen. Zell Miller came from his home in the mountains.

“It’s good to be among you again,” Miller told the crowd, which cheered its approval. “It is critical that we keep Saxby’s voice and vote in Washington.”

Miller said Chambliss could be the “last man standing” in front of a “far-left agenda” that Martin wants to help the Obama administration push. He zeroed-in on Obama’s pledge to increase taxes on higher-income Americans and give tax breaks to most others.

“To steal from Peter to pay Paul, even if it gets Paul to vote for you, is wrong, wrong, wrong,” Miller said.

Turnout for the runoff could be much lower than the 67 percent of voters who cast ballots Nov. 4.

Both campaigns are pulling out all of the stops to get voters to the polls or have them cast ballots in early voting.

In the state’s last major U.S. Senate runoff, which took place in 1992, only about half of those who voted in the general election bothered to cast ballots in the runoff.

And the 1992 runoff was held before the Thanksgiving holiday.