Sunday, June 29, 2008

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Five Democrats are vying for the right to challenge U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) in his bid for re-election. All five will meet face-to-face this afternoon in a debate sponsored by Atlanta’s Fox 5 TV station.

As they enter the debate, all five are trailing Chambliss badly in the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of the state. Against each of the Democrats, Chambliss attracts between 52% and 57% of the vote. The Democrats attract from 30% to 39% support and trail by margins ranging from thirteen to twenty-seven percentage points. Rasmussen Markets data shows the Chambliss is currently given a % chance of keeping his job this November . These figures are updated on a 24/7 basis by market participants. It costs nothing to join and share your opinion.

Chambliss is viewed favorably by 57% of voters statewide. The incumbent Senator was an upset winner over incumbent Democratic Sen. Max Cleland in 2002, besting him 53% to 46%. In Georgia’s Presidential race, John McCain leads Barack Obama.

The most competitive Democrat in the Senate race at the moment is former state lawmaker Jim Martin who trails Chambliss 52% to 39%. A former TV reporter, Dale Cardwell, trails by twenty points (53% to 33%). DeKalb County’s Chief Executive Officer Vernon Jones trails by twenty-seven points, 57% to 30%. For Cardwell, those numbers are a bit weaker than a month ago while totals for the other two candidates remains unchanged.

Two candidates not surveyed before are a local businessman--Rand Knight--and a retired businessman Josh Lanier. Chambliss leads Knight 55% to 31% and Lanier 54% to 31%.

The debate between the five Democrats will be simulcast by Fox 5 online.

While Chambliss continues to hold his own in Georgia, Democrats are looking to pick up several Republican Senate seats this November. Many Republican Senate seats are potentially in play for Democrats including seats in Alaska, New Hampshire, Oregon, New Mexico, Colorado, Mississippi, Minnesota, Virginia, and Kentucky. So far, just two Democratic incumbents are polling below 50%--Mary Landrieu in Louisiana and Frank Lautenberg in New Jersey.

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