Dem’s Ad in Georgia Runoff Features Obama

Democrat Jim Martin released his first ad of an anticipated Dec. 2 runoff election in Georgia’s cliffhanger Senate race Thursday that features President-elect Barack Obama.

The Georgia Secretary of State’s office reported that with 96 percent of precincts in, GOP incumbent Saxby Chambliss holds a 49.9 percent-to-46.7 percent lead over Martin. CNN.com, however, was reporting 99 percent of precincts in, with Chambliss at the 50 percent mark. Georgia state law requires runoff elections if any candidate receives less than 50 percent of the final tally.

Chambliss’s campaign said votes still have yet to be counted in Fulton County, home to the city of Atlanta, including between 35,000 and 45,000 absentee votes. Military ballots are also outstanding, the campaign said.

But Martin went ahead with his first ad of the month-long runoff period, a 30-second piece that includes an excerpt from Obama’s victory speech Tuesday night and describes Martin as eager to help him implement his agenda.

Both Martin and Chambliss said Wednesday they anticipate in-state appearances in the coming weeks from their parties’ respective presidential candidates.

View the ad here:

–J. Taylor Rushing