A mechanical engineer who had been running a lonely, long-shot campaign for president has shifted gears and decided that he wants to take on Rep. John Barrow (D) instead.

Ray McKinney (R) of Savannah told the Savannah Morning News this week that he hopes to raise $1.5 million for the Congressional contest. Barrow had $945,000 in the bank as of Sept. 30.

McKinney was finding it difficult to qualify for the GOP White House primary ballot in many states. The highlight of his presidential campaign was finishing seventh of 12 candidates in a GOP presidential straw poll in Texas, according to the newspaper.

Wayne Mosley, a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve and an orthopedic surgeon, is preparing to run for the Republican nomination, and Augusta Mayor Bob Young is mentioned as a possible candidate.

Last year, Barrow finished just 900 votes ahead of the man he ousted from office in 2002, former Rep. Max Burns (R). But the district leans Democratic, particularly in presidential years.

— Josh Kurtz