November 15, 2006
Even though last Tuesday was a watershed year for change on the national political scene the democratic midterm avalanche did not reach Alabama. Although we had a larger than normal turnout similar to the national trend, 50% in Alabama is of record proportions, our results revealed very little change. After the dust settled we found ourselves pretty much status quo.
November 08, 2006
This week’s column puts me at a disadvantage. You have the luxury of knowing the outcome of Tuesday’s election and I do not. Newspaper deadlines dictate that this column had to be written prior to Tuesday’s results being known. However, Tuesday’s election will answer some major political questions regarding Alabama politics. Several questions have already been answered earlier this year in the primaries.
November 01, 2006
We Alabamians enjoy our politics almost as much as we love our college football and the Governor’s race every four years is almost as eagerly anticipated as the Auburn vs. Alabama game. It is like an extra Christmas every four years. We start handicapping the possible candidates three years out and the field is usually set one year out. However, if you believe the polling data there will be no surprises for Christmas this year. It is like our parents have told us what Santa Claus is bringing us.
October 25, 2006
Last week we discussed the judicial races. This week we will focus on the remaining secondary statewide contests. Many of these positions arouse very little interest among the average Alabama voter because the majority of you could care less who holds the office of State Auditor or Secretary of State. In fact, if a poll were taken in two months less than 10% of Alabama voters could tell you who held these positions, probably could not even recognize the candidates name and more than likely could not tell you who they voted for in that race. Therefore, many of these secondary races will be decided by party preference and gender and who they are voting for in the Governor’s race.
October 18, 2006
With the general election less than three weeks away the airwaves are becoming bombarded with political ads, both positive and negative. Unfortunately you may see more of the latter because negative ads are the most effective.
October 04, 2006
With the general election looming both sides in the governor’s race are preparing for the final four week sprint to the finish line on November 7. These last few weeks will be critical and the last few days will be very critical. When it boils down to the last week there will only be about 5% of the electorate who are undecided in this high profile contest. At this time both sides’ highly paid consultants are planning their strategy and campaign ads for the final week.
September 27, 2006
As the November elections for statewide office get closer there is a lot of media attention and stories written about the power being wielded by special interests, PACs and big money. They focus on the large amount of cash and influence being bet on the horses for Governor. The Business Counsel of Alabama and its allies have loaded up Gov. Riley in his reelection bid. The AEA and its campaign largesse and influence are supporting Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley in her bid to unseat Riley. Quietly behind the scenes is a very real power in Alabama politics, Milton McGregor. You can bet he is playing ball.
September 20, 2006
The selection of Speaker of the House will not be as volatile and contentious as the race for President Pro Tem of the Senate next year. Nevertheless it will be just as crucial and pivotal. Seth Hammett will be the odds on favorite to be reelected to his third 4-year reign as king of the House of Representatives. Hammett, a conservative Democrat from Andalusia, is a 28-year veteran of the House with eight of those as Speaker. He was Pro Tem the four years prior to being head of the 105 member lower chamber.
September 13, 2006
Earlier in the year when qualifying began for this year’s election the fact that Republican legislative candidates were required to sign an agreement to support a Republican candidate for Speaker received wide spread attention for a few days but has been swept under the rug ever since. This first of its kind pledge to support the choices of the House and Senate Republican caucuses for leadership positions in the new Legislature was approved by the party’s 21 member steering committee to make sure Republican legislators vote in unison for the choices of the House and Senate Republican caucuses. The pledge also commits them to vote for the operating rules recommended by the Republican caucuses.
September 06, 2006
While the Governor’s Race along with Legislative and local races are center stage in Alabama, this is also a national election year with all 435 members of Congress up for election and 33 Senate seats up for grabs. We do not have either of our two U.S. Senate seats up this year, which makes the Governor’s race even more of a marquee show. However, all seven of our Congressmen run this year, as they do every two years, but they all will be reelected.