John Barrow

Conservative Democratic Rep. John Barrow has been a GOP target ever since his 2004 election to represent Georgia in the House – and 2010 will be no different.

Republican Carl Smith , chief of the Volunteer fire department in the small town of Thunderbolt, Ga., announced plans to challenge Barrow, according to the Morris News Service . Smith is the latest Republican to announce his candidacy in the 12th District race, but he does not enter as the favorite of party strategists.  

Republicans actively recruited Army Col. Wayne Mosley , a surgeon who served in Afghanistan and Iraq and surgeon, to run against Barrow in 2010.