Vietnam veteran backs Martin for Senate

Vietnam veteran and U.S. Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) on Tuesday threw his support behind another veteran of that conflict, Democratic Senate hopeful Jim Martin of Atlanta. Martin is in a tightening race against incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss.

Webb spoke to reporters at the Pete Wheeler Georgia War Memorial near the state Capitol in front of 50 union members and veterans, some carrying signs with “Georgia Veterans for Obama.”

While Webb endorsed Martin, he backed away from any criticism of Chambliss, who got a deferment from military service and has been blasted by Democrats for his 2002 campaign against then-U.S. Sen. Max Cleland, a triple amputee who served in Vietnam.