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Guy, I know you think you know how things are, but you're sadly mistaken. The reason Saxby did so bad during the General Election was because of his first attempt at traitorously supporting McCain, Bush and Kennedy at the ill-fated "Comprehensive Immigration Reform Altar". He caught holy hell for it - changed his tune, but not his heart (along with Isakson). To tell you the truth, I could have give a crap if he lost and I think he was taught a lesson.

It was only after the aftermath and the thought at giving the rats another win did the voters relent - that and the promise and support of the true 'one' - Sarah, did we amass and take back the reins of conservative control in Georgia.

The Nov. vote was definitly a “Punish Saxby” vote. You can tell by the numbers that a lot of people voted McCain for Pres and Martin for Senate.

Too many people in GA still think “our democrats” are different from national democrats, that’s why they felt comfortable voting for Martin in the main election.

Martin was exposed in the runoff. Martin had enough sense to keep Obama as far away as possible, but the DNC (bless their hear) ran a lot of ads just before the election saying that GA needed to send Martin to the senate to help Obama. They tied Obama around Martin’s neck.

The runoff was as much an anti-Obama vote as anything. The Republican base was fired up to vote against Obama, the Demos didn’t get fired up to help Obama.

I didn’t cast a pro-Chambliss vote, I cast an anti-Obama vote. Chambliss skated through this election as the lesser of two evils, but if he doesn’t change his tune he will be in trouble six years from now.

This is exactly the problem with the Republican party. They have become the lesser of two evils. You don’t win elections (much less get things done) that way.

“Additionally, Jim Martin was a poor candidate whose liberal record on taxes, guns, and abortion bordered on disqualifying any Georgia politician seeking statewide office”

That didn't stop him from doing surprisingly well in the first round elections on Nov 4th. Clearly, voters on Georgia didn't think he was as poor a candidate as the author seems to think

The lesson is pretty basic. It is that states that are reliably red (or blue) will remain so, for the next few cycles at least, absent overriding issues in a particular campaign.

States that are not reliably one or the other could still be swing states are the states that matter most.

Unfortunately, Obama won every single one of those, which is why he had a convincing electoral win.

Everyone on this post is wrong or almost wrong except Zevon.

Saxby’s win was due to turnout, or lack thereof. 1.3 million FEWER voters turned out for the runoff. Obama didn’t just have coattails, his presence on the ticket dragged out more than just marginal voters. Nationwide.

The turnout for the runoff is more typical that of an off-year election.

It is actually good news and says that the GOP will probably win back the House.