From the House Race Hotline for Monday, July 14, 2008

Why Georgia?

Mon. Jul 14, 2008


Outside MD, we really haven't seen any states with hot primary battles this year. That all changes 7/15 in GA.

-- If there's a Rep. who screamed "primary me" this cycle, Athens-based Paul Broun (R-10) was it. His surprise victory in a nasty '07 special split the party geographically between Athens and Augusta, and his libertarian stances on issues make him appear out-of-step with the CD. None of his polls have shown him earning under 70%. But will geography again play a role? Augusta was disappointed in losing its grip on the seat in the special. How strongly do voters there want it back?

-- Meanwhile, the WH race has played a starring role in the challenges to John Lewis (D-05) and John Barrow (D-12). Black Dems were unhappy with Lewis' early support of HRC, and two relatively young African-Americans are questioning whether it's time for new leadership in the community. Sound familiar?

-- Barrow has been helped in his largely African-American primary by Barack Obama's endorsement. His African-American opponent calls him too conservative, but did Obama's early support, and Barrow's huge financial edge, slam the door on state Sen. Regina Thomas' (D) chances before she could even begin?

-- UT-03's Jason Chaffetz (R) reminded us that voters still have the itch to throw out incumbents. But while that's unlikely in GA, the answers to these questions may be just as important to Obama's GA chances and to Broun's future survival.

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