Although it comes as no surprise, a new poll showed Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R) holding a substantial lead over all four of the Democrats vying to take him on in November 2008.

Each of the Democrats essentially fared equally poorly in the poll, which was conducted Oct. 19-21 by the Republican firm Strategic Vision.

In it, Chambliss led DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones 57 percent to 28 percent; former TV reporter Dale Cardwell 58 percent to 26 percent; environmental engineer Rand Knight 58 percent to 25 percent; and Vietnam veteran Josh Lanier, who only recently entered the race, 58 percent to 24 percent.

The poll of 800 likely voters had a 3-point margin of error.

— Josh Kurtz