Senate runoff a test for Obama

By: Jeanne Cummings
Politico.com
November 9, 2008

President-elect Barack Obama may risk some of his newly earned political capital in Georgia, where a Dec. 2 Senate runoff could move Democrats a step closer toward a filibuster-proof, 60-vote majority in the upper chamber.

The race is between Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss and Democratic challenger Jim Martin. Chambliss came out of Election Day ahead of Martin. But he didn’t secure the 50 percent-plus-one-vote margin required under Georgia law, triggering the runoff.

The decision facing Obama is whether to return to the campaign trail and risk a possibly embarrassing political setback just weeks after his historic victory, or remain focused on his transition and hope for the best in the Peach State.

Democratic political strategists are ambivalent about which is the right course.

Clearly having a filibuster-proof Senate majority would ease Obama’s ability to govern, said Joe Lockhart, a former Clinton White House press secretary. But, he added, “The last thing you want to do is make one of your first fights one that isn’t within your control whether you win or lose.”

(More here.)