ATLANTA -- Former Vice President Al Gore on Sunday night called on Georgians to seize the mantle of change in the state's nationally watched U.S. Senate runoff, arguing that a vote for Democrat Jim Martin would put "government on the side of the people again."

"You realize that the eyes of the nation are on this race in Georgia," Gore told several hundred cheering Democrats at a $125-a-person Martin fundraiser at an Atlanta art gallery.

Martin is locked in a Dec. 2 runoff with first-term Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss. The Georgia race will help determine how much clout Democrats have in the Washington.

Democrats are within two seats of a 60-vote majority that would give President-elect Barack Obama a stronger hand when he is sworn in next year. Georgia is one of two unresolved Senate races. The other is in Minnesota, where a recount is under way in the excruciatingly tight contest between Republican Sen. Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken.

Gore cast Chambliss as the heir to the failed policies of the Bush administration. Gore memorably lost to Bush in 2000 in a bitter race that was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.

"The Bush-Cheney-Chambliss philosophy has been tried and not only found out to be wanting, it has been found out to be a catastrophe," Gore said.

"It's time for him to go," Gore said of Chambliss.

Gore ended his 10-minute speech with a cry of "change is coming to Georgia." He was drowned out by the enthusiastic crowd.

Martin praised Gore, who served for years as a senator for Tennessee, as "an inspiration to Southerners."

The two men hoisted their arms aloft at the end of Gore's speech.

A Nobel Peace Prize winner for his work on global warming, Gore is the latest in a parade of political luminaries to beat a path to Georgia for what is nation's biggest remaining election.

Last week, former President Bill Clinton headlined a rally for Martin.

A number of Republican presidential candidates have stumped for Chambliss including former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, ex-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and the GOP's eventual nominee Arizona Sen. John McCain. Another Republican presidential wannabe, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, is scheduled to appear with Chambliss Tuesday.

Georgia's last Senate runoff was in 1992 when Democratic Sen. Wyche Fowler earned more votes on the general election but went on to lose to Republican Paul Coverdell in a runoff.