Monday, October 25, 2004; Page A01
SAVANNAH, Ga. -- If ever a congressional district was tailor-made for Democrats, it is Georgia's 12th -- a long, narrow stretch of southeastern Georgia where Al Gore won 57 percent of the vote in 2000 and African Americans make up 42 percent of the population.
Yet Republican Max Burns, a former college professor and county commissioner, snatched the seat two years ago after making an issue of his Democratic opponent's shoplifting record. Now Democratic challenger John Barrow is struggling to dislodge Burns in one of the closest House races in the country.
Barrow's challenge underscores a larger quandary for Democrats in their battle to recapture control of the House. Democratic leaders exerted considerable effort last year to recruit top-flight candidates. But in many cases, Republicans have overwhelmed the challengers with the power of incumbency, superior fundraising skills and hard-edged ads focused on such hot-button issues as terrorism and same-sex marriage.
The GOP holds a 227 to 205 advantage in the House, and the combination of Republican firepower, Democratic miscues and a controversial Republican redistricting plan in Texas virtually assures the continuation of GOP rule, independent political analysts say.
"There's not a chance in the world, I don't think, of the House turning over," political analyst Charles E. Cook Jr. said last week.
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59698-2004Oct24.html