Alaska Governor Sarah Palin implored Republicans to back Senator Saxby Chambliss in his hotly contested Senate run-off, telling a cheering crowd yesterday that the first step in rebuilding the Republican Party begins with the Southern state.

The run-off in Georgia today will help determine the balance of power in Washington, where Democrats are just two votes shy of the 60 votes needed to prevent Republican delaying tactics in the US Senate. Georgia is one of two undecided contests. A recount is under way in a tight race in Minnesota.

Campaign appearance

Palin, the former vice-presidential candidate, made her first campaign appearance since she and Republican presidential candidate John McCain lost on November 4.

Palin's four stops for Chambliss underscored not only the stakes for Republicans in the Senate race but Palin's popularity within the party. She has been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate in 2012 - a fact not lost on some Georgia voters.

Several thousand supporters waited in the cold to file into the James Brown Arena in Augusta. Vendors sold bright pink 'Palin 2012' T-shirts and 'Palin for President: You Go Girl' buttons. She was greeted like a rock star with chants of "Sa-rah!"

Georgia on our minds

"Georgia the eyes of America are upon you," the former vice- presidential candidate said. "We all have Georgia on our minds."

Last month in the general election, Chambliss fell short of crossing the 50 per cent threshold in a three-way race against Democrat Jim Martin and a Libertarian candidate, Allen Buckley, who drew 3.4 per cent of the vote.

Palin cast the Georgia run-off as the first step in rehabilitating the Republican Party, wounded by losses in November inclu-ding the defeat of the McCain-Palin ticket.

"It takes rebuilding and I say let that begin here in Georgia tomorrow," Palin said.