Buckhead Businessman Enters U.S. Senate Race

ATLANTA, GA -- Buckhead businessman James Barksdale qualified on Thursday for Georgia's U.S. Senate race this fall.

Even though there are other Democrats who have qualified to challenge popular GOP incumbent Johnny Isakson, Barksdale is widely seen as the party's leading candidate, reports the AJC.

Barksdale is president of Equity Investment Corp.

Isakson, 71, who has served in the Senate since 2005, is popular on both sides of the Congressional aisle. He also has a large war chest of $5.5 million.

According to Equity Investment's website, Barksdale's began his career in investments, acquisition analysis, and planning at IC Industries in Chicago. After overseas assignments, he joined Merrill Lynch in New York, and then served as a portfolio manager for Management Asset Corporation in Connecticut before forming Equity Investment in Atlanta in 1986.

He has served on The Carter Center's board since 2008.

Democrats have been scrambling to find a challenger to Isakson this fall. Rev. Raphael Warnock of Ebenezer Baptist Church was rumored to be a candidate for the party last year, but declined.

Image: Equity Investment Corp.