Four Democrats face primary on Chambliss' old turf

Ask Chuck Byrd why he&#39;s running for Congress and the Houston County lawyer gives a blunt answer: He just sent his youngest daughter off to the University of Georgia. <br> <br> He said, ``I don&#39;t think you can go to Washington and leave your children at home, if you&#39;re pro-family.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Such values talk may sound unusual coming from a Democrat. It&#39;s certainly uncommon in a Democratic primary. But moderation, if not downright conservatism, could be the key for Democrats trying to win back the heart of middle Georgia in the newly drawn Third Congressional District. <br> <br> Four Democrats -- Byrd of Perry, former Macon Mayor Jim Marshall, Conyers dentist Joe Lester and Macon businessman Sig Dayan -- will face off in the primary Tuesday. <br> <br> About half the district, which crosses 31 counties with Macon at its center, was formerly turf to Republican Representative Saxby Chambliss. But the Democratic Legislature drew Chambliss out of the district last year, in part prompting Chambliss&#39; bid for the U.S. Senate. <br> <br> The resulting open seat was drawn to give Democrats an edge in November. Heavily Republican areas, such as Robins Air Force base south of Macon, were carved out. And rural counties in Georgia&#39;s ``black belt&#39;&#39; were included to bump the Democrat-leaning black population to 37 percent. <br> <br> But Republicans have an unopposed challenger, Bibb County Commissioner Calder Clay, who has raised just over one million dollars -- more than all four Democrats combined. <br> <br> Clay&#39;s early fund-raising success, coupled with the conservative leanings of rural white voters, indicates the Third District race in November will likely be the most competitive of Georgia&#39;s four open-seat congressional races, says Emory University political science professor Merle Black.

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