MSNBC and CNN project that Saxby Chambliss has emerged the winner of the runoff of the Senate race in Georgia, defeating challenger Jim Martin four weeks after the general election.
The win for Chambliss gives the Republicans 41 seats in the Senate, removing the possibility of a filibuster-proof Senate for the Democrats at least until 2010 during midterm elections.
During the last few days of the runoff campaign, both Chambliss and Martin had been joined by politicians and celebrities to rally support for their candidate. Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin had each traveled down to Georgia to lend their support for Chambliss, while former President Bill Clinton, former Vice-President Al Gore, and rapper Ludacris had held rallies in support of Martin. President-Elect Barack Obama cut a robo-call for Martin, but did not appear at a Georgia rally in person.
Chambliss successfully defended his Senate seat despite a history of controversial campaign tactics. In 2002, Chambliss defeated Democratic incumbent Democratic Sen. Max Cleland after running a TV ad that questioned Cleland's commitment to national security, using an image of Osama bin Laden. Cleland is a triple amputee wounded in the Vietnam War. Chambliss also stirred up controversy when he cautioned his followers that "the other folks are voting," ostensibly referring to the large turnout of African-American voters who voted for Obama on November 4.
Chambliss has been ordered to provide evidence in lawsuits stemming from an explosion at an Imperial Sugar factory on February 7 which killed 14 and injured scores of others. Chambliss has currently refused to testify, an action for which Savannah attorney Mark Tate has accused Chambliss of aiding Imperial with dodging responsibility.
The lawsuits, which Tate filed on behalf of the four victims and others, claim Imperial "wrongfully" failed to remove hazards that caused the disaster.
The U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration reached nearly the same conclusion. It is seeking to fine Imperial $8.8 million for safety violations at Port Wentworth and at its plant in Gramercy, La. The company is appealing.
Tate says he thinks Imperial enlisted Chambliss to help "denigrate the reputation" and "bias the Chatham County jury pool" against Graham H. Graham, Imperial Sugar's vice president for operations.
Graham said at a July Senate hearing that the company stymied his efforts to make the plants safer.
This was the first Senate runoff in Georgia since 1992 when Democratic Sen. Wyche Fowler was upset by Republican Paul Coverdell. With the Senate race in Georgia finally resolved, one Senate race remains undecided. Both parties are still awaiting the results of the hotly contested recount in Minnesota between Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken.