27 seconds ago 2009-12-03T02:24:46-08:00
Both candidates in the closely-watched Georgia Senate runoff can’t seem to get enough of President-elect Barack Obama.
After watching his Democratic opponent increasingly associate himself with Obama in his campaign advertising, Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) is now eager to reinforce that connection himself.
Chambliss’ new ad features images of Obama and his Democratic opponent, Jim Martin side-by-side, accusing both of supporting higher taxes.
“Our economy is in turmoil. Jobs lost. Pensions in jeopardy,” a narrator says. “Barack Obama’s new taxes would be a disaster, yet Jim Martin supports them.”
Chambliss is facing Martin in a December 2 runoff.
The runoff has become a battle of which side can best turn out its partisan base without the benefit of a presidential election on the ballot. Martin has been trying to energize Democratic voters throughout the state – and particularly the state’s substantial black vote – by connecting his campaign to Obama.
Both of Martin’s television ads have made ample use of Obama – including one featuring his victory speech footage in Grant Park – and it recycled a radio advertisement he recorded on Martin's behalf during the general election.
Democrats believe that if most black voters who turned out in record numbers for Obama come out again and support Martin in the December 2 runoff, they will have a good chance at winning.
And now Chambliss, with his new ad, is directly making the race a referendum on Obama.
Notably, the National Republican Senatorial Committee avoided using Obama’s image in its attack ad against Martin, instead relying on lesser-known standbys like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and DSCC chairman Chuck Schumer.
"This is designed to push the core base out---the most solid conservative who is terrified of Obama,” said Georgia-based pollster Matt Towery, the CEO of InsiderAdvantage.
“The interesting twist is that, now Chambliss has made Obama an issue in the campaign, it is a litmus test on Obama whether he likes it or not.”
