Michelle Nunn backed by EMILY's List for Senate

Catalina Camia | USA TODAY

Democrat Michelle Nunn is getting a boost in the Georgia Senate race, picking up the endorsement Monday from EMILY's List.

Nunn, a longtime volunteer organization executive and daughter of former senator Sam Nunn, faces an uphill battle in the Peach State. No Democrat has won a statewide office in Georgia since 1998, but the party has high hopes that a crowded Republican primary will weaken the GOP nominee and help Nunn.

She is also seeking to become the first woman elected to the Senate from Georgia.

"It's important that we elect a Democratic woman like Michelle, but it's just as important that we keep her right-wing, extremist opponents out of the Senate," said Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY's List, in an e-mail to supporters. "Think about it this way. If you're looking for the next Todd Akin, Georgia's the place."

Akin is the Missouri Senate candidate who lost a race last year to Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill, in large part due to comments about "legitimate rape."

EMILY's List, a group dedicated to helping Democratic women get elected to office, says it will give its "full support" in the race — meaning campaign money and grass-roots support. In the 2012 elections, 80% of the candidates endorsed by the organization won their races including Senate candidates McCaskill, Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin and Mazie Hirono in Hawaii.

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