Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin urged an Augusta crowd to vote Tuesday to re-elect U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss.

"All of this depends on you tomorrow. Georgia," she told several thousand gathered this morning at the James Brown Areana. "The stakes are so high. America is depending on you."

Mrs. Palin said Republicans need to hold the line in the Senate. She said the party offers checks and balances to stop tax hikes, 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.”

Mrs. Palin will be traveling the state today to campaign for Mr. Chambliss who faces Democrat Jim Martin in a Tuesday runoff election.

Campaign staffers and local Republican Party officials said more than 2,000 had sent RSVPs for this morning's event, and a long line stretched from the doors of the James Brown Arena up Seventh Street and down Telfair as people waited for the civic center 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 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 as someone who competed in pageants, such as Mrs. Palin, she supports her.

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

Another woman, Nicole Barnes, brought her daughter Kate Monahan, 9, a third-grader at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic School.

"I think this was a great educational opportunity for her to be here at such a critical time in such an important election," Ms. Barnes said.

Kate also voiced support for Mrs. Palin, adding, "I think her policies are good."

When the 9-year-old was asked for specifics, she said she supported domestic drilling and lower taxes.

Reach Donnie Fetter at (706) 863-6165 or donnie.fetter@augustachronicle.com

From the Monday, Dec. 1, 2008 online edition of The Augusta Chronicle

Reach Donnie Fetter at (706) 863-6165 or donnie.fetter@augustachronicle.com