Chambliss, Republican senator, wins runoff in Georgia

ATLANTA — Saxby Chambliss, a first-term Republican senator, was re-elected by Georgia voters Tuesday, ending Democratic hopes for a 60-vote majority in the Senate that would make it difficult for Republicans to filibuster the Obama administration's legislative agenda.

With most of the vote counted, Chambliss captured 57 percent to Democrat Jim Martin's 43 percent. The margin was far greater than the 3 percentage points that separated the two men in the Nov. 4 election.

Many of the Democrats who turned out last month in enthusiastic support of Barack Obama apparently did not show up at the polls Tuesday.

A spokesman for Secretary of State Karen Handel predicted between 18 and 20 percent of the state's 5.75 million registered voters would cast ballots, far less than the 65 percent who voted last month.

The runoff between the former University of Georgia fraternity brothers was necessary after the three-way general-election race prevented any of the candidates from getting the necessary 50 percent.

Chambliss portrayed his win as an encouraging sign for Republicans looking to regroup as they head into the next election cycle. "I'm excited to be the first race that leads us into the 2010 campaign because it'll be a tough fight," he said.

Chambliss, 65, a pro-business conservative, campaigned in the runoff on a platform of limiting Obama's ability to pass legislation in a Democratic-controlled Congress, and many voters interviewed Tuesday said the balance of power in the Senate had been an important factor in their choice of a candidate.

"If you can't have a little back-and-forth arguing between the parties, then the party in power will make mistakes," said Ron Zukowski, a computer expert in Atlanta who voted for Chambliss. "This was my chance to say no, and I said no."

Some Democratic voters said they had seen Martin's campaign as an opportunity to support Obama. "I want the Democrats to not have to deal with a filibuster," said Charles Bedell, a social worker in Atlanta who supported Martin, 63, a former state lawmaker. "It's important to me to have a Democratic senator."

Chambliss' victory ends at least for this year the Democratic push to reach the 60-vote milestone, though the party is holding out hope that a victory in the continuing Minnesota recount will give them 59 seats in the Senate.

By the end of Tuesday, with 93 percent of Minnesota's total vote recounted, Norm Coleman's lead stood at 303 votes with the State Canvassing Board set to finalize results Dec. 16.

Even with 58 seats, Senate Democrats would have their largest majority since the late 1970s, putting them in a strong position to advance their agenda on economic recovery, health care, labor organizing and climate change.

Material from The Associated Press and Star Tribune is included in this report.

Florida senator won't seek another term

ORLANDO, Fla. — U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida, who has struggled because of his close ties to President Bush, said Tuesday he will not seek a second term in 2010, saying he wants to spend more time with his family.

The Republican pushed an immigration-overhaul bill unpopular with many in his party, and his seat was widely seen as vulnerable in two years. He rejected suggestions he faced difficult re-election prospects in a state won last month by Democrat Barack Obama.

"I've faced much tougher obstacles in my life," Martinez, 62, said.

"My decision is not based on re-election prospects, but on what I want to do with the next eight years of my life."

The Associated Press