GA-Sen: Drive for 60 Comes Up Short Tonight

Tonight, the runoff election between GOP incumbent Saxby Chambliss and Democrat Jim Martin has been called for Chambliss, putting the Democrats short of the 60 seat majority that would enable them to quash GOP filibusters. 

Democrats are currently guaranteed to control at least 58 Senate seats in the 111th U.S. Congress, with only the Minnesota seat between incumbent GOPer Norm Coleman and Democratic challenger Al Franken undecided. 

However, I'd like everyone to keep in mind that 58 is certainly nothing to sneeze at, and it represents a 13 seat pickup compared to the 109th Congress elected in 2004. And, oh by the way, today GOP Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida announced he would not seek re-election, opening up a seat that will surely be targeted by Dems in 2010 considering how President-elect Obama turned Florida blue.