John Barrow stands out like a bit of a sore thumb: by most measures, he’s one of the most conservative Democrats in the House, but unlike the other arch-Blue Dogs, he’s doing it in a district that’s D+2 and where the majority of the Democratic electorate is African-American. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that he’s facing a primary challenge from the left this year, from state senator Regina Thomas.
This race hasn’t been getting much attention, in terms of netroots traction and certainly not in terms of money. However, the biggest gun of all was suddenly wheeled out today: Barack Obama, who cut a radio spot in favor of John Barrow. (You can listen to the spot over at Talking Points Memo.)
Obama credits Barrow for:
…standing up to the lobbyists, and the Republicans who vote right down the line with George Bush…
Hmmm… I wonder if Obama has been paying attention to the FISA fight that’s going on in the Capitol as we speak, and what side Barrow’s been on with that?
The question here is: is Barrow actually feeling some heat in the primary, or is he just calling in a favor as a preemptive strike (Barrow heads Obama’s voter registration efforts in Georgia, and Barrow endorsed Obama back in February)?
The decision has left some of Obama’s backers in Savannah disappointed. But as Matt Stoller diagnosed, it’s pretty much win-win for Obama. Cutting the ad for Barrow helps him show all the Blue Dogs that he has their back, and it may help reduce the talking out of turn by guys like Dan Boren and Tim Mahoney. If Barrow wins, he’ll still be less of a thorn in Obama’s side with an increased progressive majority where Blue Dogs hold less sway in the House. And if Thomas somehow pulls it out, well, that’s one more progressive ally for Obama’s agenda.
Barrow didn’t even endorse Obama until after Obama won Georgia and Barrow’s district overwhelmingly.
Also, while Barrow might hold less sway simply b/c there will be more progressives, I can’t imagine Obama thinks his endorsement will make him more loyal. Look at Lieberman.
Or is that just Marshall’s district?
Barrow could be in my opinion a sleeper for Obama as VP. Barrow is only 53 years old, Obama is 46. a graduate of University of Georgia, later Harvard ( Obama’s Alma mater ) in 1979. He is a conservative who can help obama among white male voters, he comes from a district that is heavily democratic & a state where obama wants to win in the fall. Barrow is leading Obama’s voter registration drive in Georgia & across the country. It’s just my opinion.
just a kinda typical moderate-to-conservative Democrat, or does he have something else interesting, such as a reputation as a maverick, or some other similar trait or notable characteristic or gimmick?
Anyone see the new numbers for the Colorado Senate seat over at Rasmussen.
DIRECT QUOTE “Democrat Mark Udall continues to build his lead over Republican Bob Schaffer in Colorado’s Senate race. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state found that the Democrat had a six six-point lead last month and has widened that lead to nine points today. It’s Udall 49%, Schaffer 40%”
9 points…looking good for us in Colorado.
-zak
http://www.insideradvantagegeo…
Insider Advantage Poll
McCain – 44
Obama – 43
Barr – 6
I’d almost forgotten about the role Barr could play in GA. Georgia is his home state and he could definately take a good chunk of voters away from McCain.
yes I know he doesn’t even come close to a Dem voting in a D+2
district.
and yes there are Democrats in districts with a heavy Republican tilt that vote better than him(as you mentioned Matheson)
But here’s the thing all those Democrats were in for an easy reelection in ’06.
There were only TWO races for DEMS in the house where Democrats were actually worried about losing and both were in Georgia.
Both Barrow and Marshall probably won’t survive the next redistricting process so we should keep them as they are.
I’ve had a feeling if Barrow didn’t move rightward he probably would have lost in ’06
I don’t blame him as most Georgia Democrats have already seen defeat when it came to the defeat of Max Cleland in 2002 and the Republican tide which swept both state legislatures and produced another round of controversial mid decade redistricting