Ludacris & Co. Rally for Martin

Martin, flanked by political and musical supporters at the state capitol, Monday, Dec. 1, 2008. (Dave Bender)

Democratic Senate candidate Jim Martin got a boost from Atlanta's self-declared "hip-hop royalty" on the eve of the runoff race against opponent, Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss.

Veteran Democratic Party officials including Congressman John Lewis, state Democratic Party Chair Jane Kidd, and numerous others crowded the stage, taking turns rallying the crowd of several hundred supporters.


Rapper Ludacris called on the crowd to go and vote Tuesday morning for Democratic Senate candidate Jim Martin, at a rally on the steps of the capitol, Monday, Dec., 1, 2008. (Dave Bender)

Braving chilly weather, Martin was joined on a stage set up on the steps of the capitol, by a bevy of acclaimed rappers including Ludacris and T.I (Clifford Harris).

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Handel: no mechanism for Saturday voting

Sign at the Fulton County Government Center, explaining early voting procedures, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008. (Dave Bender)

Secretary of State Karen Handel -- a Republican who oversees Georgia elections -- says state law doesn't provide for weekend voting and prohibits voting on the Monday before Election Day.

Democratic Party Chair Jane Kidd on Tuesday called on Handel to request that the Department of Justice allow polls to remain open longer during the week, over the weekend, and on Monday, November 3:

“We have known that both the Democratic and Republican parties, their candidates, and even your office itself are encouraging voters to avail themselves of advance and early voting. And, we have known since advance voting began that large numbers of voters are doing just that. I am just mystified that your elections division is seemingly so unprepared for the wave of voters we all knew was coming."

Handel responded saying that county officials will be working through the weekend to prepare for the crush of voters.

Lines at the ballot box were down to under four hours in most places by Tuesday.

(AP)

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Westmoreland calls Obama 'uppity'

Georgia’s Democratic Party wants Georgia Republican congressman Lynn Westmoreland to apologize for calling Barak Obama “uppity.”

The Washington newspaper “The Hill,” reports that Westmoreland used the word when describing Obama and his wife as members of an elitist class.

A spokesman for Westmorland says the congressman was using the dictionary meaning of the word and was unaware of additional racial context.

Georgia’s Democratic Party chair Jane Kidd called the comments in a statement insensitive at best and urged Westmoreland to apologize.

According to the newspaper, Obama campaign took no racial offense.

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