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Isakson Challenger Looking at Bernie Sanders Playbook

Barksdale sees opportunity among younger voters in Georgia Senate race

Sen. Bernie Sanders lost Georgia's Democratic primary but he won among younger voters. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Sen. Bernie Sanders lost Georgia's Democratic primary but he won among younger voters. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Georgia’s Democratic candidate for Senate Jim Barksdale has at times compared his long-shot run to Sen. Bernie Sanders’ insurgent presidential campaign.

In some ways, both are predicated on taking on the typical political establishment. Sanders was an outsider who did not formally join the Democratic Party until his presidential campaign and Barksdale has never held elected office.

[Democrats Think Georgia Is Starting to Lean Their Way]

Similarly, when Roll Call spoke with Barksdale last month about his opponent, Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson, the challenger cited the incumbent’s positions on deregulation and “the tax loopholes that allowed people to avoid U.S. taxes.”

“They have made the economy weak,” Barksdale said. “He’s been the poster child for all failed policies.”

While Sanders lost among African-Americans and women, key demographic groups for Democrats to flip the state, he beat Hillary Clinton among voters aged 18 to 29.

And an Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll shows voters between the ages of 18 and 39 are the group least likely to support Isakson.

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