Palin hits the campaign trail for Chambliss

By Paul Steinhauser
CNN Deputy Political Director
(CNN) - Call Sarah Palin the closer.

The Alaska Governor and former Republican vice presidential nominee is
back on the campaign trail Monday, teaming up with Sen. Saxby Chambliss at four
campaign events in Georgia, the last full day of campaigning before tomorrow's
Senate runoff election in the state.

Chambliss is the freshman Republican senator from Georgia who's fighting
to keep his seat. He's facing off in the runoff election against Jim Martin, a
former Georgia state lawmaker.

Chambliss won a plurality of the vote three weeks ago on Election Day,
but Georgia state law calls for the winner to grab 50 percent plus one vote.
Due to the inclusion of a third party candidate, Chambliss fell just shy of
that threshold, forcing a runoff contest.

Palin joined Chambliss at a pair of fundraisers last night. She adds her
name to the list of big name surrogates who have made campaign cameos in the
last remaining senate election this year.

Sen. John McCain returned to the trail to campaign with Chambliss just 9
days after losing the presidential election to Obama. Two weeks ago former
Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who ran for the Republican presidential
nomination before dropping out in March and backing McCain, campaigned with
Chambliss. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney also teamed up with
Chambliss. Like Huckabee, Romney also ran for the GOP presidential nomination
before ending his bid in February and backing McCain.

Democrats have so far picked up seven Senate seats in this year's
election, with the Republican seats in Georgia and Minnesota still undecided.
In Minnesota, freshman GOP Senator Norm Coleman topped his Democratic
challenger, Al Franken, by just 215 votes, triggering an automatic recount
which will extend well into December.

If the Democrats take both remaining contests, they'll reach their
pre-election goal of controlling 60 Senate seats, which would be a filibuster
proof majority. A filibuster is a move by the minority party in the Senate that
basically brings the chamber to a standstill by blocking votes on legislation.