Georgia Incumbents Win Easily

Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) easily dispatched a veteran Georgia state legislator in Tuesday’s Republican primary, and now is near-guaranteed of returning to Congress for another term.

Broun leads Barry Fleming, the Republican state House Majority Whip, by an overwhelming 40-point margin, 70 to 30 percent, and the AP has called the race for Broun. He even carried Fleming’s home county (Columbia) in the Augusta, Georgia suburbs.

The degree of Broun’s victory was somewhat surprising. Fleming raised more money than Broun during the campaign – rare for a primary challenger – and had a greater presence on television as well. Fleming launched a series of scathing attack advertisements against Broun, accusing the libertarian-minded incumbent of being a lone vote against popular legislation. And Broun did not go up on television to respond until the campaign’s final week.

Broun’s resounding victory, though, indicates that Fleming’s tough attacks against Broun failed to stick. His victory may also dissuade future Republican opponents from challenging him on in this heavily Republican northeast Georgia district.

Broun scored an improbable upset in last July’s special election over state Sen. Jim Whitehead, the favorite of the GOP establishment to succeed the late Rep. Charlie Norwood.

Just to the south of Broun’s district, Rep. John Barrow (D-Ga.) has defeated state senator Regina Thomas.  With 82 percent of precincts reporting, Barrow leads Thomas 78 to 22 percent.  Thomas, who is African-American, hoped to win the support of black voters, who comprise a majority of the Democratic electorate in the district.

But she raised very little money to get her message out – and Barrow was aided by a radio advertisement that Barack Obama cut on his behalf.

Barrow will now face conservative activist John Stone in the general election. Barrow, who has a significant fundraising advantage, begins the campaign as the heavy favorite.
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