Georgia Reps. Barrow and Broun breeze to primary wins

Reps. John Barrow (D) and Paul Broun (R) sailed to re-nomination in Georgia’s primary Tuesday, proving those wrong who had predicted that both would face tough challenges.

Barrow led state Sen. Regina Thomas 78-22 with 76 percent of precincts reporting. Broun was up against state Rep. Barry Fleming 71-29 with 97 percent of precincts in.

Barrow appeared vulnerable to a primary challenge from an African-American candidate like Thomas, given a heavily black Democratic primary electorate. The race moved to the national radar when Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) took the unexpected step of endorsing Barrow last month.

Broun is a year removed from a special election victory in which he relied heavily on Democratic and independent votes against a Republican opponent. Many of those voters could not cast ballots in the GOP primary, but Broun coasted anyways against a challenger who raised around $1 million.

In other Georgia races, DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones and attorney Jim Martin appear headed for a runoff in the Democratic Senate primary. Jones led Martin 40-35 with 72 percent of precincts in, and no other candidate had more than 15 percent in the five-man field.

The winner will face Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R) in a lower-tier Senate race.

Barrow appeared set to face former Republican congressional aide John Stone in the general election. The race has been a top GOP target in recent cycles.

Stone led two other Republicans with 59 percent of the vote and 76 percent of precincts reporting, but he would likely have to increase his fundraising to give Barrow a tough race.

Like Barrow and Broun, Democratic Reps. John Lewis, David Scott and Jim Marshall also easily defeated primary challengers.

Marshall will face retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Rick Goddard, who was unopposed in his GOP primary, in a top general election race.