Pat Dollard | Young Americans

ATLANTA - Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss won re-election Tuesday in a runoff, dashing Democrats’ hopes of capturing enough seats in the U.S. Senate to push through any legislation they wanted.

Chambliss’ win to a second term gives the GOP a firewall against Democrats eager to flex their newfound political muscle in Washington. The monthlong runoff battle against Democrat Jim Martin captured the national limelight, drawing political luminaries from both parties to the state and flooding the airwaves with fresh attack ads.

Minnesota—where a recount is under way—now remains the only unresolved Senate contest in the country.

The Georgia win is a rare bright spot for Republicans in a year where they lost the White House as well as seats in the House and the Senate. Chambliss and Martin were forced into the runoff after a three-way race during last month’s general election failed to give any of the candidates at least 50 percent.

Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., arrives with his grandson John Baker for an election-night party Tuesday, Dec. 2 2008 in Atlanta.