Sen. Saxby Chambliss

I have not been a fan of our Sen. Saxby Chambliss, but I have to acknowledge that, at least in the past couple of years, he has participated in some bipartisan attempts to get some things done.   He was a member of the bipartisan Gang of  Six that tried to reach a compromise on the budget.  He has also worked with Democratic Sen. Mark Warner on the federal debt, and he has sought consensus on immigration.

At a recent Chamber of Commerce dinner in his honor, Chambliss said this:

"I don't mind crossing party lines.  If Republicans had a patent on all the good ideas, we'd be in power forever.   [But] We don't . . . .  It's difficult in Washington with the atmosphere right now.   It's more difficult than ever, I think."

Six Republicans are vying for the Republican nomination to succeed him.  Is anyone picking up that bipartisan mantle?

Well, yes, as a matter of fact.   It's candidate Michelle Nunn -- only she's running in the Democratic primary.   All the Republicans are either running the other way, or else keeping mum about any thought of cooperating to get things done.   Phil Gingrey and Paul Braun are definitely distancing themselves from that position.

At this same dinner, Gingrey said:   "I certainly believe it's time for us to stand our ground."  That's a real economy of words there, Brother Phil.   In one short sentence, you distanced yourself from the bipartisan leanings of Sen. Chambless, and you reminded people that you favor stand-your-ground gun laws.

The contrast was provided by Michelle Nunn.  Her campaign has already highlighted her work with former Republican President George H. W. Bush to merge her Hands On Atlanta volunteer project with Bush's Points of Light, from which she is currently on leave from her position as Executive Director.

This bodes well for a red to blue flip for the Georgia senate seat in November 2014.

Ralph