ATLANTA - Sen. John McCain was back on the campaign trail Thursday to help defend a Republican seat in Congress.

McCain spoke at a rally at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in support of incumbent Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss, who is in a tight runoff race with Democrat Jim Martin. They are two of six U.S. senators battling it out in runoff elections.

“I didn’t think I would be on the campaign trail quite this early,” McCain joked. “Saxby and Johnny [Isakson] have been two very strong defenders of the taxpayer’s dollars, and we have to send Saxby back.”

McCain also spoke about the importance of the runoff to the Republican Party.

“The eyes of the country and the world will be on the state of Georgia on Dec. 2,” he said. “I know I can count on you.”

Chambliss marked the importance of voters showing up at the polls.

“We’ve got a lot of hard work left to do and the Democrats are going to be brutal,” Chambliss said. “But I give the Georgia voters more credit than what the Democrats do.”

Chambliss urged voters to vote early and tell their friends about his message to counter the large Democratic gains from last week’s election.

“We’re embarking now with a new administration under the leadership of President-elect Obama,” Chambliss said. “Let me just say that I will pray for him every day.”

Influential Republicans from Georgia and neighboring states were at the event. Sen. Johnny Isakson, former Georgia Gov. Zell Miller and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle were among the politicians present.

“Saxby is my best friend,” said Isakson, who met Chambliss as a student at the University. “He’s looking after you. He’s your best friend, too. He’s also America’s friend.”

One of the largest rounds of applause came after the mention of McCain’s former running mate Sarah Palin. The Alaska governor is making an effort to visit Georgia because “she’s committed to the re-election of Saxby Chambliss,” McCain said.

College Republicans traveled to Atlanta to support Chambliss.

“It really shows the magnitude of the race here in Georgia,” said Brittany Pittman, a freshman from Newnan. “It’s exciting to get caught up in the atmosphere.”

Chambliss stressed the importance of college students voting, saying that “no one has more at stake than a college student entering the workplace.”

When asked why University students should get out and vote for him, Chambliss said:

“Because I’m the biggest Bulldog fan there is.”