Picking Barrow opponent may be tougher for GOP

By RUSS BYNUM
Associated Press

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) - The race in Georgia to choose a Republican to challenge the Deep South's last white, Democratic congressman could be getting more competitive barely three months before the primary.

Democratic Rep. John Barrow of Augusta is expected to be a top Republican target in 2014. Last year it looked like his opponent would be chosen in a two-man Republican primary race with a clear frontrunner. But that has changed.

Augusta Republicans Rick W. Allen and John Stone have been campaigning since summer. Allen was raising four times as much money as Stone.

But last week Allen reported raising $78,311 during the last quarter of 2013, while Stone had $66,656. A few days later, Republican state Rep. Delvis Dutton of Glennville entered the race. Now it's possible the primary could require a runoff.

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