5 incumbents beat back challengers in Ga. primary

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

By SHANNON McCAFFREY, Associated Press Writer

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ATLANTA —

Five congressional incumbents easily routed challengers Tuesday after light turnout in Georgia's party primaries, but two Democratic contenders for U.S. Senate were headed for a runoff.

In Alabama, Huntsville insurance executive Wayne Parker and state Rep. Jay Love won GOP congressional primary runoffs.

In Georgia, veteran congressman John Lewis of Atlanta fought and won his first Democratic primary challenge in 16 years and will return unopposed to Congress.

Republican U.S. Rep. Paul Broun in northeast Georgia defeated a well-funded rival backed by the state GOP establishment. Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall crushed a Macon teacher in central Georgia. Rep. David Scott also defeated a Democratic primary challenger. Broun, Marshall and Scott will face rivals from the opposite party in November.

Broun's commanding victory over Barry Fleming comes 11 months after Broun eked out victory in a runoff against a state senator considered to be the GOP front-runner for the seat left open by the death of U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood.

With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Broun led Fleming, an attorney and high-ranking state legislator, 71 percent to 29 percent.

Democratic U.S. Rep. John Barrow easily defeated state Sen. Regina Thomas in the 12th congressional district in eastern Georgia. Barrow, who had the support of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, was leading with 76 percent of the vote to Thomas' 24 percent, with about 96 percent of precincts reporting.

John Stone, a former congressional aide from Augusta, won a three-way GOP primary in that district.

Meanwhile, two Georgia Democrats will meet in a runoff in a bid to challenge Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss in November.

DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer Vernon Jones and former state lawmaker Jim Martin led in the five-way race, but unofficial returns showed neither able to top the 50 percent of the vote needed to claim the nomination outright.

With 85 percent of precincts reporting, Jones had roughly 40 percent to Martin's 35 percent. They faced three political newcomers in the primary.

In Atlanta's 5th congressional district, the incumbent Lewis led with 68 percent with 52 percent of precincts reporting.

The Rev. Markel Hutchins and state Rep. "Able" Mable Thomas had argued that Lewis, a national civil rights icon, is out of touch with the needs in his district.

In Alabama, Parker won a Republican runoff for one of two open U.S. House seats while Love, who represents Montgomery, won the other race.

In north Alabama's 5th Congressional District, Parker defeated Huntsville lawyer Cheryl Baswell Guthrie. With 97 percent of precincts reporting, Parker had 79 percent to Guthrie's 21 percent.

In the 2nd Congressional District runoff in southeast and central Alabama, Love defeated state Sen. Harri Anne Smith of Slocumb by 53 percent to 47 percent, with 99 percent of precincts counted Tuesday night.

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Associated Press writer Bob Johnson in Alabama contributed to this report.