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"In the end, this isn't about the future of the Republican party," Matheny said. "It's about everyday Georgians who are struggling to make ends meet after the past few years of Bush-Chambliss economic policies." Martin also has had some star-power campaigners including Bill Clinton and Al Gore, among others, and he is appearing at an Atlanta rally with Georgia hip hop star Ludacris this afternoon. President-elect Obama has recorded ads and robotic calls to voters but didn't interrupt his transition planning for a trip to Georgia.

Martin is portraying himself as the way to complete Obama's mandate. However, Palin said Republicans need Chambliss to hold the line in the Senate to offer checks and balances to stop Obama's anticipated tax hikes, and she said the GOP would promote conservative energy polices and see the war on terror end with a successful conclusion. "Saxby has not forgotten who he is serving," she said. "He knows we must get government back on your side."

Palin will be traveling the state today to campaign for Chambliss who faces his former fraternity brother Martin in a runoff expected to draw few voters as Georgians turn their attention to the holidays. In Augusta, campaign staffers and local Republican Party officials said more than 2,000 had requested free tickets for this morning's event, and a long line stretched from the doors of the arena as people waited for the doors to open.

"It's not so much about encouraging support for Saxby, but encouraging people to get out and vote," said Ashley Nelson, a Chambliss campaign aide. "Mr. Chambliss believes voter turnout will decide the race." Among those who braved a chilly Monday morning to attend were Courtney Turner, 18, who is the Miss North Augusta Teen USA. This was her first year voting, she said, and she supports Palin as someone who had also competed in pageants.

"She's interested in the things I'm interested in, and I can relate to her," Turner said.

Kate Monahan, 9, a third-grader at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic School, came with her mother to support Palin.

"I think her policies are good," Kate said, adding when asked for specifics, that she favors domestic drilling and lower taxes. While Kate won't be able to vote in four years, Palin may be thinking that far ahead. Many conservative Republicans have called for her to carry the party's standard in 2012 to try to prevent Obama's re-election.