Senate OKs new map for Congress.

Extending a national trend to Georgia, Senate Republicans on Monday approved a revised political map that dramatically reshapes the state's congressional districts — and could enhance the GOP's chances on election day.

The new map was approved by the Republican-led Senate, 32-21, having previously passed the GOP House. It's likely to go back before the House today on a largely procedural vote. Then it will head to the governor to be signed into law.

The new map brings potential peril for several Democratic incumbents.

It places freshman Democratic U.S. Rep. John Barrow of Athens into a newly drawn 10th District with longtime Republican U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood of suburban Augusta. Barrow may choose to run in the now-vacant 12th District to the south. [Barrow has indicated he will run in 12th.]

U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall, a Macon Democrat, will have a much different district whose black voting-age population — a key measure of potential Democratic voting strength — drops from 38 percent to 30 percent. Former Republican U.S. Rep. Mac Collins has expressed interest in running against Marshall.

Meanwhile, west Georgia's 11th District becomes safer for Republican U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey. The black voting-age population drops from 26 percent to 11 percent.

(3-22-05 AJC.)