ATLANTA --- The Senate runoff in Georgia is drawing its share of big-name politicians, from Republican John McCain to former President Bill Clinton.

But some Democrats are wondering why the star of their party, President-elect Barack Obama, isn't scheduled to head South to campaign for Jim Martin.

"I'm praying that President-elect Obama will find time to come down to Georgia and swing around the state with Jim Martin," said state Rep. Tyrone Brooks, a civil rights leader.

The Dec. 2 runoff pits first-term Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss against Democratic challenger Mr. Martin. Neither candidate got 50 percent of the vote plus one on Election Day, forcing the contest in the Republican-leaning state.

Mr. McCain campaigned for Mr. Chambliss last week, and another former White House hopeful, Mike Huckabee, lent his help. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is set to visit Friday.

Mr. Clinton plans to headline a rally in Atlanta on Wednesday.

Obama aides have been dispatched to help Mr. Martin, but Mr. Obama has not scheduled any trips to Georgia. While the transition and choosing a Cabinet top Mr. Obama's to-do list, the president-elect faces a political reality. In 1992, Mr. Clinton swept into Georgia for Democratic Sen. Wyche Fowler, who lost in a runoff to Republican Paul Coverdell. It saddled him with an election defeat before he was sworn in.

Republicans are quick to point out that Mr. McCain won Georgia on Nov. 4. Mr. Chambliss is drawing crowds on the trail, saying he's needed in Washington as a firewall to the Democratic agenda.

Besides Georgia, Senate races in Minnesota and Alaska remain unresolved. Democrats are looking to add to their party's majority with an eye toward winning the 60 seats needed to block Republican filibusters. Senate Democrats have 55 seats with two independents who caucus with the party.

University of Georgia political science professor Charles Bullock said if Mr. Obama wades into the race it becomes, in large part, a referendum on him.

"He stakes his reputation in this contest, and if Martin loses that looks bad," Mr. Bullock said. "On the other hand, if he comes here and Martin wins it makes Obama look all the more potent, which could help him get some new agenda items through."

So far, about 100 Obama field operatives from other states have come to Georgia to help, and the Martin staff has taken over 25 Obama field offices from the general election campaign.