Georgia Runoff an Early Test for Barack Obama

President-elect Barack Obama faces his first political test today in Georgia, where Democrat Jim Martin is challenging incumbent Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss in a run-off election to determine the winner of the U.S. Senate race there. Although Obama has not visited Georgia in support of Martin, he has spent some of his political capital on Martin's campaign; sending campaign volunteers from neighboring states to assist in the run-off, and personally recording a radio ad and robocalls for Martin. The effort by Obama is part of the Democratic Party's push to reach 60 votes in the Senate, which would give Democrats the super-majority necessary to overcome Republican opposition to the enactment of Obama's agenda.

Chambliss narrowly missed garnering the fifty percent needed to win election outright on Election Day last month, falling just two tenths of one percent short of the mark. The Real Clear Politics polling average shows Chambliss with a five point lead over Martin, who received 47 percent of the vote on Election Day.

A win by Chambliss would guarantee that Democrats could not reach the filibuster-proof 60 seats in the U.S. Senate, but it would be an even bigger blow to President-elect Obama. It may be small consolation, but turning back the Obama juggernaut in Georgia could be the confidence boost Republicans need to right the party after consecutive election year setbacks. With his six-point victory over Sen. John McCain and gains in both the House and Senate, Obama may have been better served by staying out of the Georgia run-off. If Chambliss wins today, as expected, it will now be seen as a loss not just for Martin, but for Obama as well.