Martin wins Democratic runoff to face Chambliss

Attorney Jim Martin won the Democratic Senate primary in Georgia on Tuesday, defeating DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones in a runoff.

Martin led Jones 59-41 with about 90 percent of precincts in, and the Associated Press has called the race. Martin will now face Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R) in a lower-tier Senate contest.

Martin was the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 2006, when he lost to 54-42 to Republican Casey Cagle.

{mosads}Jones finished first in the initial primary, with 40 percent to Martin’s 34 percent, but he couldn’t build much on that initial support. Martin has been backed by much of the Democratic establishment, whereas Jones is a much more controversial figure.

Chambliss isn’t considered a top target, but Democrats held out some hope when they recruited Martin. Martin’s primary win represents a small victory in their effort to make the race competitive.

The incumbent led Martin 51-40 in a July Rasmussen poll. A poll from the GOP firm Strategic Vision earlier in the month showed Chambliss up 57-28.

In a statement, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Charles Schumer (N.Y.) praised Martin and called Georgia a “winnable race.”