Reply #27: Speaking of Max, check out this story

[CatWoman]

Cleland says Chambliss will use ‘disgusting lies’ against Martin

Ex-Senator tries to raise money for challenger, calls incumbent’s ads in 2002 ‘despicable’
By JIM THARPE

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Former Democratic U.S. Sen. Max Cleland has gotten into the 2008 Georgia Senate race, firing a broadside at his old nemesis, Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss.

Chambliss beat Cleland in a 2002 upset win that included a controversial television ad questioning the triple-amputee Vietnam War veteran’s commitment to national security. The ad came at a time when Cleland and other Democrats were holding up approval of the Department of Homeland Security over a unionization issue.

Cleland on Thursday issued a fund-raising appeal for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which hand-picked Democrat Jim Martin in his tightening race against Chambliss and Libertarian Allen Buckley. Polls show Chambliss up 6 points to dead-even with Martin.

Chambliss’ campaign declined comment on the Cleland solicitation.

“We’re focused on 2008 and winning on Nov. 4,” said Chambliss spokeswoman Michelle Grasso.

“In 2002, Saxby Chambliss won his Senate seat in the final days by putting my picture next to Osama bin Laden and lying about me,” Cleland said in his letter on the DSCC Web site. “It was despicable, but it worked. This year, we can’t let Chambliss use the same vile tactics to defeat Democratic challenger Jim Martin.”

Cleland goes on to write the race is tightening and adds: “We all know what that means. The disgusting lies and the dirty tricks are just around the corner.”

“The DSCC needs the help of thousands of grassroots Democrats to raise $462,914 before midnight so they can fight back against what we all know is coming. If we don’t meet this goal, they simply won’t be able to do everything necessary in the final weeks to win in Georgia and every other battleground state. It’s now or never, folks.”

The letter is signed “Max.”

The DSCC has already funneled more than $500,000 into Georgia to finance attack ads against Chambliss. One ad blasts Chambliss for his supporter of the so-called “fair tax,” a national sales tax that would replace the income tax.

The Republican National Senatorial Committee, meanwhile, has begun pumping money into Georgia to assist Chambliss.

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2008/10/...