In 2014, Democrats believed that Georgia was one red state that they could turn blue. They had a very strong nominee in former Points of Light Foundation CEO Michelle Nunn and Republicans hosted a crowded primary and contentious run-off before nominating businessman David Perdue. Nunn couldn’t survive the midterm tide and Perdue won the race with 53 percent. While Democrats perform somewhat better in Georgia in a presidential year, Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson is well positioned in his bid for a third term. Isakson easily dispatched two minor primary opponents, winning the nomination with 77 percent of the vote. Despite a lack of evidence that the incumbent is particularly vulnerable in a general election, Democrats recruited wealthy businessman Jim Barksdale into the race right before the filing deadline. Barksdale is the president and chief investment officer of the Atlanta-based Equity Investment Corporation, and had put $1.1 million of his own money into the contest as of the May 24 primary. Although he was the only candidate who aired television ads in the primary race, Barksdale got just 54 percent to
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