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ATLANTA - U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) was surrounded by his wife, Julianne Chambliss, U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), supporters and other key Georgia leaders Wednesday afternoon at the state Capitol as he announced his 2008 re-election campaign.

"Today, as we embark on a re-election campaign, I ask that we join hands," Chambliss said. "Because we have a lot of issues important to Georgia."

On the five-year anniversary of the Iraq War, Chambliss focused on troops, the military and keeping the country safe.

Chambliss, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Rules Committee, said the troops are "true heroes" that are working to make the United States the "safest, most secure country in the world." He said there has been a lot of work done regarding the war by both Republicans and Democrats; however, "the job is not done."

The Senator touted the first-hand knowledge he had gained from six visits to the region. Following the public announcement, he said things in Iraq have changed dramatically and he has received positive reports from generals and officers entrenched there.

Lindsay Mabry, communication manager for Chambliss, said the Senator plans to continue being a strong voice for national security and continue being a strong supporter of the military.

The Senator, standing in the Capitol's rotunda under the Gold Dome, took note of the five-year anniversary of the war, but also talked about a number of other pressing issues, including the economy and health care.

Chambliss told reporters, Iraq is not the sole issue, it's one issue.

He said lawmakers need to put forward the "right policy that ensures our economy bounces back in the right way."

He said gas prices are part of the problem and the country needs to focus more on alternative fuels and implement policy regarding conservation that is fair and reasonable. He said he would like to see farmers using more ethanol like they do in the Midwest.

Chambliss is the ranking Republican member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.

Regarding healthcare, the Senator stated the need to enact legislation that would make health insurance affordable and available to all Americans. And those Americans should be able to choose their healthcare instead of the federal government dictating their insurance, he said.

For Cobb, Chambliss said Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in Marietta is very important and he is planning to continue working on the F-22A fighter aircraft issue. Lockheed assembles the F-22s, with many local jobs connected to their assembly. Some defense officials have proposed slowing down and eventually stopping the production of the fighter planes over the next few years. Chambliss and Isakson have been supporters of continued production.

For others in the county, Chambliss said Cobb County people are Georgia people and he is going to work to enact federal policy that benefits all Georgians.

Ms. Mabry said the Senator officially kicked off his re-election campaign Monday at 5:30 p.m. in Moultrie, Ga., where he resides, and has been on the road in Georgia since - traveling to Leesburg, Columbus and Macon on Tuesday, and Savannah and Augusta Wednesday morning before heading to the state's capital. He will be in Dalton today touring the Shaw Industries facilities.

"That's the part of the job he likes the most - getting out there and talking with people," Ms. Mabry said. "He is a hard campaigner and loves to be on the road with his wife."

Chambliss was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994 and was re-elected in 1996, 1998 and 2000. He ran for the Senate in 2002, defeating democratic incumbent Max Cleland in a close race that is described on the Senator's Web site as being "one of the most stunning and historical victories of the 2002 elections."

Chambliss and his wife have two children, Bo Chambliss and schoolteacher Lia Chambliss Baker. The Senator has two grandchildren.

Chambliss will face off in the fall against whichever Democrat emerges from the primaries.

Ms. Mabry said whoever emerges, Chambliss' camp will "run like we're 20 points behind and take nothing for granted."

"We'll take them on in a spirited race, focusing on the issues Georgians care about."

Chambliss said Republicans are going to get a boost by standing by the President.

Some of the Senator's previous actions include: fighting to have Isakson's border security trigger included in the immigration reform bill so that no immigration could take place before the borders were certified as secure; rejected proposals to provide amnesty for those here illegally; urged updating the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' water control plan, which he called outdated, for the two river basins that serve Georgia, Alabama and Florida; apposed a budget proposal that would have increased taxes; and supported proposals to make the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts permanent.

bwilson@mdjonline.com

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