WASHINGTON—Augusta U.S. Rep. John Barrow will skip the Democratic National Convention in September, adding to a growing list of Democrats distancing themselves from the national party's major quadrennial get-together.
Barrow spokesman Richard Carbo said Tuesday that Barrow is not going to Charlotte because he is "planning a number of events throughout [the] district during that time."
Barrow is in his fourth term and faces a difficult re-election test in a district newly redrawn to lean Republican. He moved from Savannah to Augusta this year to remain in the reshaped 12th District.
Four Republicans are competing in a primary to face Barrow in the fall and national Republicans plan to invest significantly in the quest to unseat the last white Democrat in the Deep South. Their attacks frequently attempt to link Barrow to President Barack Obama.
Barrow often has bucked party leaders on big votes, such as the 2010 health care law, and is a leader in the centrist Blue Dog Coalition. He frequently touts his independence from party leadership and did not vote for Rep. Nancy Pelosi to be the Democratic Leader last year.
U.S. Sens. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Jon Tester of Montana and Joe Manchin of West Virginia have said they will not attend the convention, where Obama is to accept the party's nomination. A handful of House members, from mostly Republican-leaning districts, also have announced they will not make the trip.
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