Washington — A year ago, when Paul Broun of Athens arrived on Capitol Hill as Georgia's newest congressman, his fellow Republicans had their doubts. "Nobody expected him to be here," said U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.).

Party leaders were stunned by Broun's victory in a 2007 special election over the much better financed Jim Whitehead, an Augusta state senator who had the blessing and the financial backing of the Georgia Republican establishment.

A year later, Broun is still running as an outsider in the 10th District primary race.

His challenger, state Rep. Barry Fleming, a Harlem Republican, has raised more money — nearly a million dollars, compared with Broun's $760,000, and Fleming has more cash on hand for the campaign's final stretch, according to federal campaign disclosures.

Fleming also has the backing of dozens of the top GOP lawmakers in the state Legislature, plus 17 city and county officials.

The Augusta Chronicle, the district's largest newspaper, has endorsed Fleming.

"Barry Fleming is the kind of man who can hit the ground running in Washington and never leave his principles behind," the newspaper wrote. Broun, however, has managed in his first year in Congress to win over some important skeptics.

Despite early signs that the hard-line conservative with a libertarian bent might be a quirky loner, most of his fellow Georgians say their newest member has become a reliable partner. "In 16 years in politics, I've never seen anybody try to be a team player like Broun," Westmoreland said.

Rep. Nathan Deal, a Republican whose northeast Georgia district adjoins Broun's, said he was well acquainted with Paul Broun Sr., who was a Democratic state senator for four decades, but "didn't know" the son before he came to Congress.

Deal is now among Broun's closest allies.

There have been awkward moments. The entire congressional delegation sponsored a fund-raiser for Broun but labeled it an event to "retire the debt" from his previous election campaign to avoid endorsing Broun as he faces another Georgia Republican officeholder in the GOP primary. Also, Rep. John Linder (R-Ga.), a friend of Fleming's, has kept his distance from Broun.

But when the House is in session for votes, Broun can often be seen conferring with his fellow delegation members on "Georgia Row," as the area in the right front of the chamber has come to be known.

The 62-year-old physician has raised eyebrows with some of his votes — especially favoring a ban on federal prosecution for using medical marijuana in states that permit it. It was a "states' rights issue," he said.

Broun, who frequently says he came to Washington to reduce the size of government, was one of just two House members who voted against setting up a federal task force to combat sexual exploitation of children on the Internet.

More recently, the Athens lawmaker stirred a tempest by sponsoring a bill that would ban military commissaries from selling sexually oriented magazines, including Playboy.

"I'm not walking in lockstep with anyone," Broun insisted in a recent interview.

Fleming has hammered Broun over some of the incumbent's more controversial votes.

"I am the candidate with a proven record, who can take ideas for positive change and deliver them into real results," said Fleming, who has served as the Republican whip in the state Legislature.

Local Republican activists expect the election to be close.

Deborah McCord, chairwoman of the Columbia County Republican Party, said, "All I can tell you from what I'm hearing is it's going to be fairly close. It'll probably depend on turnout ... and to be honest, after last year I'm afraid to speculate anymore."

In recent weeks the tone of the Broun-Fleming race has turned ugly.

Fleming has made a campaign issue out of Broun's financial and personal problems dating to the 1970s and '80s, especially Broun's declaration of bankruptcy, late payment of taxes and a court battle with a former wife over alimony payments.

During a recent televised debate in Atlanta, Fleming sought to connect those personal issues to Broun's votes on the medical use of marijuana and on whether Internet service providers should be held liable for child pornography on the Web.

"The same bad judgment that led to all these problems in the past have continued into Broun's office today," Fleming said.

The tactic has drawn controversy, however. Fleming's Franklin County campaign chairman, Charles J. Powell, wrote an angry resignation letter to the candidate and had it posted on OnlineAthens.com just hours before the debate.

"I ... told you that you would have all my support and efforts provided that you did not go negative by bringing up the past against Paul Broun," wrote Powell. "It appears now that you have done so."

Critics of Broun say the incumbent has not kept on the high road himself.

During a Thursday interview with an Augusta radio station, Broun questioned Fleming's faith and accused his opponent of "bearing false witness" against him.

"It's unfortunate that he doesn't understand redemption and salvation and a changed life in accepting Jesus as lord and savior," Broun said, "It's not about religion but about a relationship with Jesus."

On Friday, the Banner-Herald published an editorial that ripped Broun for his remarks.

"Just how desperate is incumbent Republican 10th District Congressman Paul Broun to hang on to his seat in Congress?" the newspaper wrote.

Whitehead, no longer a candidate running for the office, said he is dismayed by the negative tone of the campaign. Whitehead also had kind words for both candidates.

"I think Paul has done has done a pretty good job," said Whitehead. "I think Paul, in his short period of time has been very responsive to the people and listened to them real well."

Broun has spent the past year peppering his district with newsletters, thanks to the free postage congressional "franking" privilege, and holding regular "town-hall" style meetings by telephone with thousands of constituents.

Whitehead called Fleming, who was a former colleague on the Columbia County Commission, "a good person, a very smart young man with a great amount of integrity.

"I think he has a future in politics," Whitehead said. "I think he could do the job very well."

Staff writer Aaron Gould Sheinin contributed to this article.