But in the coming 50-50 Senate, every vote will matter, and every decision will be watched and judged. Miller's senatorial partner, Democrat Max Cleland, has no such problem. His partisanship is beyond question. He has been an outspoken and active Clinton-Gore Democrat who only occasionally broke ranks with his Democratic colleagues. Cleland stands for re-election in 2002.
Republicans are certain to try to recruit formidable opposition.
Gov. Roy Barnes, who appointed Miller to the Senate, has been able to dodge the Bush-Gore bullet so far. When the Gore campaign decided weeks before the election to write off Georgia as hopeless, the national Democrats all but released Barnes from his presidential commitments. He concentrated his political attention on maintaining the Democratic majority in the state legislature which he did, though he suffered a few cuts and bruises along the way. The governor has spoken positively on Secretary of State Cathy Cox's proposals to reform Georgia's election procedures so the Peach State can avoid Florida's problems in future elections. Beyond that, Barnes has steered clear of the legal wrangling over the next presidency.