Friday, Sept. 7, 2012

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) -- Democratic U.S. Rep. John Barrow is trying to distance himself from President Barack Obama to offset efforts by his Republican opponent to paint them as political soul mates.

Lee Anderson, a state lawmaker and farmer from Grovetown, officially became Barrow's GOP challenger this week after a protracted primary that had to be settled by an August runoff and a recount Wednesday. Anderson talks of campaigning against both Barrow and Obama as if they're running mates in Georgia's 12th District.

Barrow is running TV ads to counter that message. In one he says: "When the president's right for Georgia, I support him. When he's not, I don't."

Barrow of Augusta faces an uphill fight for re-election after his eastern Georgia district was redrawn last year to give the GOP an edge.

(Copyright 2012, The Associated Press)