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Ga.'s Chambliss defends attacks on Cleland

BOSTON, July 28 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., Wednesday defened questions he raised in 2002 about Democrat Max Cleland voting record.

Chambliss' charges, which Democrats said amounted to an attack on Cleland's patriotism, have been a bete noire for he Democratic Party ever since.

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"I never questioned the patriotism of my opponent," Chambliss said. "I questioned his voting record and, as a response," the Georgia republican continued, "he raised the issue of questioning patriotism."

""Even though I was running against a veteran who was well known and suffered severe harm during his service, I was endorsed by the VFW PAC," on his 2002 bid for Cleland's Senate seat.

Chambliss made an issue, in that campaign, of Cleland's refusal to vote for the creation of a U.S. Department of Homeland Security until government labor unions got concessions from the Bush administration.

"My record on supporting veterans is very strong, as is the Bush administration record on supporting veterans, and I will place it beside any other record relative to the folks involved in this campaign," Chambliss said.

Cleland, who lost both legs and one arm in Vietnam, is scheduled to introduce Kerry on Thursday night prior to his acceptance of the party's presidential nomination.

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