  A new non-relativistic expansion in terms of the nucleon's momentum inside
nuclear matter of the current for isobar electro-excitation from the nucleon is
performed. Being exact with respect to the transferred energy and momentum,
this yields new current operators which retain important aspects of relativity
not taken into account in the traditional non-relativistic reductions. The
transition current thus obtained differs from the leading order of the
traditional expansion by simple multiplicative factors. These depend on the
momentum and energy transfer and can be easily included together with
relativistic kinematics in non-relativistic, many-body models of isobar
electro-excitation in nuclei. The merits of the new current are tested by
comparing with the unexpanded electromagnetic nuclear responses in the isobar
peak computed in a relativistic Fermi gas framework. The sensitivity of the
relativistic responses to the isobar's magnetic, electric and Coulomb form
factors and the finite width of the isobar is analyzed.
