Georgia Senate Race Is The Most Important In The U. S.

It seems to me I am seeing and hearing more about Georgia's U. S. Senate race from national and world media than I am here in Georgia, and I think I have that figured out. Here in Georgia we see the Senate race as between a liberal Democrat, Max Cleland, and a conservative Republican Congressman, Saxby Chambliss. We see it as a race between a Senator who wants to represent liberal Washington to Georgians, and a conservative Congressman who wants to represent Georgia beliefs in Washington. We see it as a race between good-old-boy Democrats and younger supporters of George Bush.

But the U. S. Senate is divided by only one vote, and the national political pundits figure that whoever wins Georgia will win the Senate, so control of the Senate for the next two years depends on who wins Georgia. This is not just a Georgia election; it is a national race. The acceptance of President Bush's programs depends on whether or not we Georgians elect conservative Saxby Chambliss as our Senator.

That's powerful...the idea that a vote in Georgia may determine America's direction for the next two years. But there's more to it than that. At present, the Senate is blocking the Bush court nominations. If Democrats can keep control of the Senate they will likely block court nominations for two more years, hoping they can then elect Al Gore, Hillary Clinton or Tom Dashle president. And, if they can win that one, they can appoint and approve liberal judges that will be on the bench for the next 30 years. National and world media recognizes that Georgia's Senate race, this year, is probably the most important election in America.

This is Gordon Sawyer, and may the wind always be at your back.