Georgia Runoff Election This Tuesday - Chambliss/Martin Race Crucial to U.S. Senate Balance

Minnesota's Coleman and Franken Also Still Vying for Important Seat

With the Alaska U.S. Senate seat now decided (Republican incumbent Ted Stevens finally conceded to Democratic challenger Mark Begich), the Democrats now hold 58 seats of the crucial 60 needed to become a "super majority", preventing any type of Republican negotiation power in the Senate.

There are two Senate seats still to be decided. The Georgia Senate Runoff Election, to be held this Tuesday December 2, is the most critical race in the country. Incumbent Senator, Saxby Chambliss (R), hopes to defend his seat against opponent, Jim Martin (D).

The other open seat is the Minnesota race between incumbent Senator Norm Coleman (R) and first-time runner, comedian Al Franken (D). This election result is in a recount and may not be decided until mid-December.

How close is the Chambliss/Martin race? A Thanksgiving week Mellman Group poll for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee shows Chambliss leading Martin by only 2 percentage points - 48% to 46%. But a conflicting Public Policy Polling Survey from the same time period from shows Chambliss at 52% and Martin at 46%.

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, President-elect Obama has left 25 of his Georgia field offices open for Martin, including in-state paid staff, and about 100 field operatives from other Southern states have been sent to help Martin's campaign.

Michael Reagan, radio host, author and son of President Reagan, has joined with the National Republican Trust PAC (Political Action Committee) in endorsing Chambliss.

Georgia Public Broadcasting reports that the latest FEC filings show Jim Martin has raised $2.4 million to Chambliss' $1.9 million in October-November to support their bids for the seat.

Meanwhile, in Minnesota: As of November 24, Norm Coleman led Al Franken by just over 200 votes at last count, out of 2.9 million cast. Franken had contested the original results, and the number during recounts has been changing ever since.

Both the Georiga and Minnesota races are crucial to pro-life advocates: