By Charles Abbott WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sen. Saxby Chambliss, a defender of U.S. farm subsidies, faces a strong challenge for re-election in Georgia in a top race among several contests that could affect congressional handling of farm issues. Formerly its chairman, Chambliss is Republican leader on the Senate Agriculture Committee. During work on the 2008 farm law, he said cotton and rice growers would be hurt unfairly by proposals to sharply reduce crop supports. Two other Republicans on the Agriculture Committee, Norm Coleman of Minnesota and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, also were in tight contests. Comedian Al Franken, who backs programs more geared to helping small farmers than agribusiness, was neck-and-neck with Coleman, according to polls. Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin, Senate Agriculture Committee...
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