Stakes are High in Martin-Chambliss Senate Race

In Georgia, CWAers and the entire union movement are turning out to show their support for Jim Martin, the candidate for the U.S. Senate who supports working families.

A special runoff election is set for Dec. 2, between Martin and Saxby Chambliss, the Republican incumbent. There are now 58 Democrats, including two pro-worker independents, in the U.S. Senate, with two elections yet to be determined: Georgia and Minnesota. If both states elect the Democratic candidates, it will be very difficult for Senate Republicans to block important legislative matters by mounting a filibuster.

CWA activists and volunteers are focusing their efforts among members in Atlanta, Macon, Columbus, Augusta, Savannah, and Albany.  Members of CWA Locals 3201, 3204, 3212 3215, 3217 and 3220 have been leafleting work sites, providing union members with information about the issues and early voting in every county set for Nov. 24-26.

Locals and RMC activists also are organizing phone banks and reaching out to active and retired members, and because turnout is critical, a major get-out-the-vote push is underway from now until the Dec. 2 special election.

Martin is a Vietnam veteran who endorses Employee Free Choice and critical veterans programs. Chambliss received five military deferments and didn't serve, yet in 2002 he ran a shameful campaign against another Vietnam veteran, Max Cleland, a highly decorated veteran who lost three limbs in combat.