ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Senator Saxby Chambliss, R-Georgia, may not find his home state the most comfortable place to be Tuesday. A week after being booed at his own state party convention as he defended the immigration deal, Chambliss was at President Bush's side as he tried to sell the plan in his remarks at the Federal Law Enforcement Center in Brunswick, Georgia.

Chambliss was one of two lawmakers on stage with the president, along with Senator Mel Martinez, R-Florida, who is also the general chair of the Republican National Committee.

Noting the heat some lawmakers have received over supporting the plan, President Bush told the crowd, "I appreciate the Republicans and Democrats in the United States Senate, starting with Saxby Chambliss and Mel Martinez, who put politics aside and put courage first to work on a comprehensive bill. It takes a lot of courage in the face of some of the criticism in the political world to do what's right, not what's comfortable. And what's right is to fix this system now before it's too late. And I thank you two for your courage."