Senate candidates into stretch run toward runoff

Saying "it’s time for him to go" in referring to Republican incumbent Senator Saxby Chambliss, former vice president Al Gore dropped into Georgia to stump for Democratic senate challenger Jim Martin. Gore spoke to about 600 people at an Atlanta art gallery Sunday night, telling the crowd "change is coming to Georgia." The Gore visit for Martin follows that of Mitt Romney for Chambliss on Friday, as the parade of high-profile names into Georgia continues. The former Massachusetts Governor in his visit told Chambliss-faithful that a victory by Martin could be a first step toward a European brand of socialism.

Tomorrow, its former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani arriving in Atlanta for Chambliss. The runoff election to decide the U.S. Senate race, as well as races for seats on the Public Service Commission and Court of Appeals, is ahead a week from tomorrow.

Davis gets stay of execution

Death row inmate Troy Davis received another stay of execution on Friday--this from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta. Davis was scheduled to die by lethal injection Monday. In its ruling, the three-judge panel said "upon thorough review of the record, we conclude that Davis has met the burden for a stay of execution". The panel ordered both sides to draft briefs for their arguments.

Supporters of Davis continue to press for a new trial, based on seven of nine witnesses who have recanted testimony. Davis was convicted in 1991 of the murder of Savannah police officer Mark McPhail two years earlier.

This is the latest turn in the case of Davis. Recently, Georgia’s longest serving death row inmate lost an appeal in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. Davis’ lawyers now have 15 days to file legal briefs on their arguments.