Cheney arrives in Georgia to raise money for Chambliss
By SHANNON McCAFFREY - Associated Press Writer

MARIETTA, Ga. --Vice President Dick Cheney arrived Monday morning in Georgia where he planned to help raise campaign funds for U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss.

After landing at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Cheney waved as he disembarked from his jet and spoke briefly with a welcoming committee of Air Force Reserve members before climbing into a limo and heading for the private fundraiser.

Chambliss already has a commanding head-start in fundraising for next year's race. The Republican from Moultrie has $3.4 million in the bank of the $6.3 million he has raised, according to his most recent report to the Federal Election Commission.

Dale Cardwell, the only Democrat who has formally entered the race to unseat Chambliss, has raised $50,165, according to his report. The former television reporter announced his candidacy just last month.

A Cardwell spokesman said the appearance with Cheney shows that Chambliss "is part of the problem in Washington."

"The vice president who let special interests write our nation's energy policy and immigration bill and whose top aide was convicted of lying under oath, is here to dump cash into his faithful servant's campaign account," Emil Runge said.

The Chambliss camp did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Cheney has been a lightening rod for critics of the Bush administration. A June CBS News poll put Cheney's job approval rating at 28 percent. It was only slightly higher in the bedrock Republican South, where it stood at 34 percent.

Fundraising figures were not yet available for DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer Vernon Jones, who has formed an exploratory committee to enter the Senate race against Chambliss but has not yet made a formal announcement. Jones reported raising just $17,900 in his last report covering through the end of March.

http://www.macon.com/149/story/89721.html