DSCC poll has Chambliss struggling

A new poll for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) suggests it might be time to throw Georgia’s Senate race into the realm of possibility.

Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R) is under 40 percent and leads within the margin of error in the Mellman Group poll, which shows him up 37-34 on attorney Jim Martin (D).

{mosads}But the poll differs starkly from other surveys of the race, which have almost universally shown Chambliss in the low 50s.

Chambliss spokeswoman Michelle Grasso accused the DSCC of running a push poll and said the campaign’s tracking polls consistently have their candidate in the low 50s.

“Honestly, I’m shocked that Martin would even let them release a push poll, but it’s not even anywhere near the independent polls that have come out here in the past few weeks,” Grasso said. “Even Rasmussen had Sen. Chambliss at 50, and that’s lowest of the independent polls.”

Martin was considered a solid get for the DSCC late in the recruiting phase of this cycle, having run statewide for lieutenant governor in 2006, but Chambliss is not a top Democratic target.

Several polls have shown Martin within striking distance, though, including the last two Rasmussen polls, which show Chambliss leading by single digits.

An independent SurveyUSA poll from two weeks ago had Chambliss up 53-36, and a recent poll by GOP-leaning firm Strategic Vision had a similar margin.

“Saxby Chambliss has been on TV since late August, but it’s clear now that the voters aren’t buying what he’s selling,” Martin campaign manager Ellery Gould said.