Daily News Staff
AUGUSTA, Ga.—Sarah Palin returned to the campaign trail Monday for the first time since her unsuccessful bid for the vice presidency.
The Alaska governor and possible 2012 presidential candidate campaigned for Georgia's Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss, who is locked in a runoff Tuesday with Democratic rival Jim Martin for a seat that could help give the Democrats a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. The Democrats would also need a victory in Minnesota, where a virtually dead-locked contest between incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken is in the midst of a contentious recount.
"All of this depends on you tomorrow. Georgia," she told thousands of supporters at the James Brown Arena in Augusta. "The stakes are so high. America is depending on you."
Chambliss finished ahead in the Nov. 4 election, with 49.8% of the vote to 46.8% for his Democratic rival, but fell short of the majority needed to avoid a runoff.
Martin was set to bring in some celebrity firepower of his own later: The Democrat was scheduled to host a rally of his own at the state Capitol, headlined by rapper Ludacris.
Palin warned that a Democratic win in Georgia could tip the balance in Washington and give the Democrats free reign to hike taxes and undo other conservative priorities.
Despite the GOP loss in the presidential campaign, Palin is still a darling of conservatives. Monday's campaign appearance is seen by experts as a means for Palin to stay in the national political spotlight in anticipation of a possible presidential run in four years.
With News Wire Services
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