Lively candidates forum in Perry

The first face-off of the candidates in the U.S. Senate race came last night in front of a boisterous crowd at the Georgia Fairgrounds in Perry Thursday night. Sharp words were traded between Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss and the challengers--Democrat Jim Martin and Libertarian Allen Buckley. The financial crisis was the overriding topic. Chambliss calling the crisis the "9/11 of our domestic economy". He defended his vote for the 700-billion dollar federal bailout, and said his opponents were sticking their heads in the sand over the issue. Martin and Buckley fired back that Chambliss was too aligned with President Bush policies, and said there are not good enough safeguards in the bailout for homeowners.

Last night’s debates also featured the 8th Congressional district race combatants--Representative Jim Marshall and Republican challenger Rick Goddard.

Bush visit aids 8th district candidate

President Bush left Georgia Tuesday afternoon hoping an infusion of money from a fundraiser he attended will give a boost to Republican Rick Goddard. Former Air Force general Goddard is in the 8th congressional district fight to try to oust Democrat Jim Marshall. The president spoke to a fundraiser crowd of about 200 people within his hour spent at the private Atlanta event.

Bush in Georgia today

President Bush drops-in on Georgia today for his first trip here in nearly two years. Bush will be in Atlanta this afternoon for a fundraising event to support 8th congressional district candidate Rick Goddard, a former Air Force general. Goddard is in the race against conservative Democrat Jim Marshall in the central Georgia district. Marshall holds a nearly 3-to-1 fundraising advantage over Goddard. While he’s here today, the President will also make the presentation of a volunteer service award to Sherri Goggin. She’s a former Mrs. Georgia who has helped families of premature babies.

President Bush to visit Georgia

President George Bush is coming to Georgia tomorrow. He's coming to Atlanta to raise money for congressional hopeful Rick Goddard. Goddard, a Republican, is trying to oust Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall in central Georgia's 8th Congressional District. It's been almost two years since Bush last visited Georgia.

Atlantic Southeast on bubble for Macon airport

The only commercial airline flying out of Macon wants three million dollars a year from the federal government. But the government is balking at the request.

The U.S. Department of Transportation says Atlantic Southeast Airlines wants triple the money it usually pays airlines for traveling to smaller cities. The department would prefer new bids from carriers.

Congressman Jim Marshall represents central Georgia's 8th district. He says even if Atlantic Southeast stops flying to Middle Georgia Regional Airport, eventually a long-term commercial replacement will be found.

"Who knows what we'll ultimately get here in Macon. I expect we will have a commercial provider and that commercial provider will cost taxpayers a lot less than the three million dollars that's proposed by ASA".

Atlantic Southeast Airlines says it needs the federal subsidy because it's losing money on the Atlanta route. Macon's airport has never received this particular federal handout.

GA, AL cops targeting DUI

Georgia and Alabama law-enforcement agencies from 15-counties are teaming up this week to fight drunk driving in the "Hands Across the Border" campaign.

Police forces, state troopers, Sheriff's offices, and Marshal's agencies began setting out checkpoints throughout Muscogee Co. Sunday night, spokesmen say.

Bridges between the two states are coming in for special attention, among them the 13th St. Bridge between Columbus and Phenix City. The focus is possibly due to more lax Sunday liquor laws in Ala.

The operation, talking place in Tennessee, Florida and South Carolina, as well, is slated to run through this coming Labor Day weekend.

In related news, a Decatur man was arrested early Sunday morning on DUI and other charges after driving the wrong way on I-85 near Columbus. He is accused of hitting a Columbus policeman riding a motorcycle, and then another motorist. The police office and second driver were injured in the incident.

United against PeachCare program expansion

Months after Georgia ran short of money for PeachCare children's health insurance, Republicans in the state's congressional delegation are opposing efforts to expand its parent program in Washington. Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson said today that they will vote against legislation to increase federal spending for the State Children's Health Insurance Program – or S-CHIP. In the House, all seven of the state's Republican members voted last night against a broader expansion that drew nearly unanimous GOP opposition. Representative Jim Marshall of Macon was the lone Georgia Democrat to join them.

Democrats ahead in fundraising

Two Democratic congressmen from Georgia whom Republicans view as vulnerable are taking large fundraising leads. Federal fundraising reports show Representative John Barrow of Savannah had nearly $737,000 dollars in the bank through the end of June. Representative Jim Marshall of Macon had $631,000 dollars. Potential Marshall opponent Richard Goddard had $146,000 dollars. No candidates reported raising money against Barrow.

Retired General to oppose Marshall

A retired Robins Air Force base commander says he will seek the GOP nomination to run against Middle Georgia Democratic Congressman Jim Marshall.

After weeks of speculation, Retired Major General Richard Goddard announced Tuesday he will try to unseat Jim Marshall to represent Georgia’s 8th Congressional District.

Goddard says watching the Democratic-controlled congress in action this year helped him make his decision. He says the vision the liberal left has for this country is not what most men fought and died for. The retired general spent 37 years in the military. He served as a fighter pilot in Vietnam, flying 227 missions. He says he supports the war in Iraq.

Goddard says he was heavily recruited by Republican Party leaders. Congressional documents identify the 8th district as one of the GOP’s top 20 targets for the 2008 election.

Goddard currently works as a Vice-President at Mercer University in Macon.