(CNN) – Nine days after losing the presidential election to Barack Obama, John McCain is back on the campaign trail.
The former GOP presidential nominee will stump for fellow Republican senator Saxby Chambliss today in Georgia.
The freshman senator most likely faces a run-off election December 2 against Democrat Jim Martin, a former state lawmaker.
At the start of the campaign, Chambliss was the heavy favorite in the race. But the contest tightened, and neither candidate won more than 50 percent of the vote on Election Day, thanks in part to a third-party candidate who won 3 percent of the vote. The race appears headed to a runoff between Chambliss and Martin.
The runoff is expected to become official later this week, after the state certifies the election results. Unofficial tallies show Chambliss with 49.8 percent of the vote, just short of the 50 percent plus one vote need to win. Martin has 46.8 percent of the vote.
McCain will join Chambliss at a campaign rally in suburban Atlanta this afternoon. McCain won Georgia's presidential vote 52 percent to 47 percent. President Bush carried the state by 17 points in his 2004 re-election victory.
Former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee is expected to campaign for Chambliss in Georgia this weekend, and an appearance by another former Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, is also possible.
Martin is hoping that President-elect Obama will come down to Georgia for an assist. While there's no guarantee that will happen, Obama is dispatching campaign aides to Georgia to help Martin in his runoff efforts.
A victory by the Democrats in Georgia could help determine if the party reaches its goal of reaching 60 Senate seats, which would give the Democrats a filibuster-proof majority in the chamber. A filibuster is a move that allows the minority party in the Senate to stall and even block votes on legislation. Sixty votes are needed to overcome a filibuster.
From CNN Politics
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Hey McShame – why don't you suspend your campaign and return to the Senate?????
I think that Mr. Mc Cain should rest up; he looks so old and dried up, like a fossil, he can never help anyone in an election when he himself is seen as a loser. Some people just don't know when to quit. I think that Mc Cain thinks too much of himself; to most people he is an old washed up war veteran.
Barak Obama thought there were 57 states in the USA. No one joked on him about that.
This election has proven how anti-woman this country really is.
For all you people who can't understand what Sarah Palin is talking about: Maybe she should steal phrases from the cartoon character, Bob the Builder, "Yes we can.
The presidential election is over. Can't you people find something else to hate? Geez- let it go. Realize that you can choose NOT to read an article.
A prime example of a polictico harlot.
BHO won. Why do the Obamabots continue with the hate, bile, invective, slanderous lies, etc.? I didn't vote for him, but I was willing to give BHO a chance. If his thoughts even slightly mirror those of the haters on this site, though, I think I'm better off going into survivalist mode.
there went chambliss' chances. score one more senate seat for the democrats and president barack.
Didn't McCain call Chambliss' ads on Cleland in 2002 reprehensible? Isn't Chambliss airing new ads with the Twin Towers falling to denigrate Martin? Why is McCain helping this guy? Probably because he's seeing Begich ahead in Alaska, Coleman possibly losing in Minnesota, and Lieberman getting closer to staying with the Dem caucus...a Martin win makes 60 if all that happens. (Not that moderate GOPs like the Maine senators wouldn't help the Dems a few times...)
It's amazing that McCain would compromise his 'principles' to campaign for Chambliss. The Chambliss campaign painted a Vietnam Vet as a terrorist sympathizer but McCain is ok with campaigning for them?? I guess he was indeed pimping his POW experience.
As much as Chambliss is known to be a racist, he still has to be voted in irregardless. The reason being if not the dems will have total and i mean total control of the legislature with no chance for a filibuster. That could be a very dicey situation.
What hatefule and un-american comments towards John McCain. He may not have been right for the job of President but you cannot argue that he is a terrible person. This shows the character of many on the left, who are still kicking while the man is down. Barrack Obama is just what the Republicans need, by the time Obama is finished in 4 years he will have ruined the Democratic party brought to you by Howard Dean and Nancy Pelosi as well as set back race relations and the crdibility of African Americans to hold high offices for another 50 years. Where is JC Watts when you need him?
McCain comes to GA because that's what works here. We are also always near the bottom in education, along with South Carolina. If our people were as smart as Kentucky or West Virginia, Chamblis would be outta here.
Go for it John. This will surely result in another Republican defeat. Maybe you should take Palin with you to really end his career. It's apparent that the GOP is going to be the next TV reality show that noone wants to watch except those with an IQ below 60.
If McCain cares as much about the country as he claims, shouldn't he go back to his job as a Senator? Last time I checked, we have a few problems in this country that need to be worked on! He has spent enough time away on the campaign trail, its time to get back to reality!
Didn't more people show up for Palin than McCain at rallies?
Maybe they have the wrong person on the stump?
I say to Sen. McCain – Come on down!
Let Saxby be seen with the election loser and the losing Republican party. Sen. McCain is helping to push Georgia in to the blue! Thanks, my friend!
Fellow Georgians, do you really want to be in with the losers or go forward with progressive Democrats?
Voting for Martin on Dec. 2.
With his reverse "Midas touch"
I pity the guys he will be stumping for.
Dear god, you print Betty the Maid's hateful rant, but my comments are still awaiting moderation?
Please retire, Mr. McCain. You've proven yourself to be an unviable candidate. You accepted your defeat with grace, but now it's time for you to leave the stage.
Its funny, all the Ultra Liberals hate, hate, hate, Sarah Palin. They want her to dissapear as they know that in 2012 she will hand Obama his cake. It will be the Palin/JC Watts ticket. JC Watts will remind us the Jessie Jackson and Sharpton are "Race pushing poverty pimps."
It is ironic that McCain is campaigning for Chambliss who maligned his opponent Max Cleland in 2000. Cleland, a triple amputee from the Vietnam war depicted in Chambliss campaign advertisements alongside Osama Bin Laden. The fact that McCain would campaign for him is a disgrace.
Hey James. You are blinded by partisan rancor if you read these comments and think Obama supporters are the only ones showing hate. In fact there is much more invective and bile comming from the right. Take your ideologic blinders off, analyse the facts, and try to think for yourself....in fact, what better advice could there be for the GOP in general as they are now going through their self-flagellation on how to get back in the "game". Of course, if [R]s in general were to follow this advice, the GOP would then have to actually come up with candidates with enough smarts and truly patriotic concerns for this country to withstand the intellectual scrutiny. Now that would be CHANGE!
McCain is helping Chambliss after he labeled Chambliss's campaign against Max Cleland in 2000 as "unconscionable and
dishonorable"? McCain has truly sold his soul to the GOP and he is the one without any honor left.
People– it's time to get past the hateful comments. Has no one noticed the condition this country is in? We need to start working TOGETHER to get us back on the right track. And CIVILITY might be a really good place to start!!!!!!!!!!
THE MAC IS BACCKKKKK!!!