Wednesday, February 6, 2002
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Wednesday, February 6, 2002 |
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Senate candidate Chambliss woos local Republicans By JANET
McGREGOR
U.S. Rep. Saxby Chambliss proved to be a huge draw for the Fayette County Republican Party's First Saturday breakfast this past weekend. Every seat was filled with local residents who either supported the U.S. Senate hopeful or were interested in finding out more about the candidate. Anyone walking into the banquet room would have believed they were definitely in Chambliss territory as the majority were sporting his campaign stickers. Chambliss has become a well known figure since Sept. 11 due to his job as chairman of the House subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security. President George W. Bush, who is openly supporting Chambliss in his bid to unseat Georgia's senior senator, Max Cleland, asked Chambliss to introduce him to the Atlanta audience last Thursday and spoke glowingly of his accomplishments. Chambliss is better known in Georgia as the 8th District congressman. Last year's redrawing of districts put Chambliss into the same district as his longtime good friend Jack Kingston. He had been considering a run for the office currently held by Max Cleland prior to the district changes, and learning he would have to run against Kingston to keep his seat finalized the decision. Chambliss opened with a brief overview of himself. An attorney for the past 26 years, he hails from Moultrie, Ga., and is the son of a minister. He and wife Julianne have two children and two grandchildren. He ran unsuccessfully for office a number of times before finally being "fortunate enough to be elected." Chambliss spoke glowingly of Bush, saying "What you see is what you get. He is plain spoken and down to earth." He said while Bush is a "good, strong Republican," the president understands the need to reach across the aisle to get anything done "without compromising any of his principles." The majority of Chambliss' talk centered on his accomplishments, his goals and his intentions for the Senate run against Cleland. Saying he intends to run a "strong, positive campaign," he outlined the two main areas the campaign would focus on Cleland's "liberal" voting record and leadership ability. In soft, easygoing tones, he touched on a few Cleland votes he felt went against the majority of voters' wishes and stated that Cleland is not "even thought of as a player in our own state, much less in Washington, D.C." Chambliss focused heavily on his support from and for agriculture, contrasting it with what he called a lack of support Cleland has given. His record in south Georgia and his growing support in the more heavily Republican north Georgia will help him carry the vote, he said. Chambliss has one announced Republican opponent for the seat, Bob Irvin. Irvin will be the guest speaker for the March 2 First Saturday Republican breakfast.
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