United States Senate election in Georgia, 2002

Saxby Chambliss first ran for the Senate in 2002 and won a close race, defeating the Democratic incumbent, Max Cleland, 53 percent to 46 percent. His House career would have likely been over even if he hadn't run for the Senate; his home in Moultrie had been redrawn into the neighboring 1st District, represented by fellow Republican Jack Kingston.

His campaign used the refrain of national defense and security, but drew criticism for television ads that paired images of Cleland and Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, and for questioning the commitment to homeland security of his opponent, a triple amputee and decorated Vietnam veteran. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKFYpd0q9nE Chambliss Ad (Cleland)] , "You Tube", August 02, 2006]

Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona said of one ad, " [I] t's worse than disgraceful, it's reprehensible;" Republican Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska said the ads were "beyond offensive to me." [ [http://mediamatters.org/items/200407300007 "Carlson attempted to downplay Republican attacks on Cleland" — Media Matters, July 30, 2004] ]

Results

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
-!|Democrat!|Votes!|Pct!!|Republican!|Votes!|Pct!!|3rd Party!|Party!|Votes!|Pct!
-
Party shading/Democratic |Max Cleland
Party shading/Democratic align="right" |932,422
Party shading/Democratic |46%|
Party shading/Republican |nowrap|Saxby Chambliss
Party shading/Republican align="right" |1,071,352
Party shading/Republican |53%|
Party shading/Libertarian |Claude “Sandy” Thomas
Party shading/Libertarian |Libertarian
Party shading/Libertarian align="right" |27,830
Party shading/Libertarian align="right" |1%|
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

References

ee also