In conservative Ga. district, candidates go right

Tag : twine ball

The incumbent claims the federal government is a "huge ball oftwine of socialism" that he wants to unravel strand by strand. Hischallenger depicts himself as a conservative agent for change whowill "walk the walk" for traditional family values.
In a national political landscape where most other contests aretrending toward the left, Republican U.S. Rep. Paul Broun andprimary challenger Barry Fleming are desperately trying to outflankeach other on the right.
It's a proven strategy in the 10th Congressional District - one ofthe nation's most conservative - stretching from Athens to Augusta.But it's also one that comes with some pitfalls: Both candidateslean so far to the right that the July 15 primary has turnedquickly to negative personal attacks.
Fleming questions how Broun can campaign as a fiscal conservativewhen his financial record in the 1970s and 1980s includes abankruptcy filing, tax liens and an alimony dispute with hisex-wife.
"It's relevant to you as a voter because what a person has done inthe past can effect the future," said Fleming. "When he goes andtries to stand strong for the traditional family, the other sidewill chastise it."
Broun has defended himself by calling the attacks "despicable" andcriticizing the tactic for scaring good candidates out of runningfor office.
"You ought to be ashamed of yourself," Broun said to Fleming at arecent debate. "Sadly, you are not."
In many ways, the contest can be characterized as a battle betweenGeorgia's Republican establishment and an outsider - except in thiscase, the incumbent is the outsider.
Broun, a physician from Athens, had run three times unsuccessfullyfor congressional seats when he ran to succeed the late U.S. Rep.Charlie Norwood, a popular congressman who died in February 2007.
He faced Jim Whitehead, a former Republican state senator, who waslong considered the GOP front-runner. But strong turnout from theAthens area forced the contest into a runoff, and Broun shocked theGOP establishment when he eked out a victory by less than 400votes.
He boasts the endorsement of a slew of conservative groups, buthe's been in the crosshairs of more established Republicans becauseof his knack for bucking the party line.
In his first vote, he broke ranks by supporting a measure to barthe Justice Department from prosecuting medical marijuana cases.
Fleming, who calls Broun's views "strange and outlandish," hasrepeatedly targeted his opponent's vote against a measure thatwould crack down on child pornography by toughening penalties onInternet service providers.
But Broun said all his decision are based on limiting the federalgovernment.
"Every single bill that he's complaining about raises the cost ofgovernment, raises taxes," he said. "We need to make changes inWashington to shrink the size of government, to leave taxes anddollars in people's pockets. That's the reason I'm voting the way Iam."
Fleming is more of a party stalwart. The attorney from Harlem, atown just outside of Augusta, was elected to the Columbia CountyCommission in 1999 and then to the Georgia House in 2002.
He shepherded a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriageand later helped lead the contentious fight to change Georgia'smedical malpractice limits.
Fleming has raised about $150,000 more than Broun, taking in atotal of $920,000, according to campaign filings.
The primary victor is widely expected to win November's generalelection, as the 10th district, which is almost 80 percent white,is considered solidly Republican. Democrats only earned 28 percentof the vote during last year's wide-open primary and Norwood easilywon the seat in 2006 with more than 65 percent of the vote.
But the Republican candidate won't face a token Democrat inNovember. Bobby Saxon is a veteran from rural Oconee County who isrunning as a conservative who will represent the district'smiddle-of-the-road values.
In his words, "I'm the guy who is just like the rest of you."
"I've run a small business and I have spent a year in downtownBaghdad," the Army veteran said during a recent stump speech. "Ifyou don't think the economy and Iraq are the two biggest issues inthe election, I don't know what you're talking about."