See also the AL - 05 Big List.
Welcome to the AL - 02 Big List.
This list has been an attempt to keep up with everyone in either political party who has been credibly mentioned (in public or private) as a potential candidate for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District since Rep. Terry Everett (R - Rehobeth) announced that he will not run for re-election.
Both parties’ qualifying period ended April 4, 2008. Three Democrats and six Republicans qualified for the primary race, and they are listed below. The primary is June 3.
The Political Parlor will update the Alabama Line (found in the sidebar) for the race, though perhaps not as fast as you like since input from a wide array of people is sought.
| Democrats |
Republicans |
IN
Bobby Bright, Montgomery Mayor
Cendie Crawley, Dentist, Troy native
Cheryl Sabel, Alabama NOW President
OUT
William Boyd, Montgomery Mayoral Candidate
Seth Hammett, Speaker of the House
Jimmy Holley, State Senator
Jimmy Lunsford, Troy Mayor
Gary McAliley, Pike/Coffee Co. DA
Wendell Mitchell, State Senator
Scott Ninesling
James Perdue, Crenshaw Co Probate Judge
Cooper Rutland, Union Springs Atty
Ron Sparks, Agricultural Commissioner
Terry Spicer, State Representative
Glen Zorn, former Florala Mayor
|
IN
David Grimes, State Representative
Jay Love, State Representative
John W. Martin, Retired Army (Dothan)
Craig Schmidtke, Dothan oral surgeon
Harri Anne Smith, State Senator
David Woods, President, WCOV-TV (Montgomery)
OUT
Greg Albritton, former state Representative
Wes Allen, former candidate for Auditor
Kenneth Boswell, Enterprise Mayor
Bobby Bright, Montgomery Mayor
Terry Butts, former Supreme Court Justice
Jim Byard, Prattville Mayor
Steve Clouse, State Representative
Mark Culver, Houston County Commissioner
Larry Dixon, State Senator
John Giles, former Christian Coalition of AL President
Jack Hawkins, Troy Univ. Chancellor
Jimmy Holley, State Senator
Tim James, Greenville businessman
Troy King, Attorney General
Ben Lewis, State Representative
Barry Mask, State Representative
Charles Nailen, Dothan businessman
Steve Pelham, former Everett staffer
Jim Sullivan, PSC President
George Wallace, Jr., former PSC Commissioner
Dot Waller, Autauga County Bd. of Ed.
Greg Wren, State Representative
|
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You are freakin’ insane. Huck voters will not switch and vote dem. Good Lord man, where are you from? And thanks for quoting the NY times.
Comment by JT — April 30, 2008 @ 6:13 pm
JT, I forgot to mention that Huckabee beat the socks off of McCain. That’s a lot of Huckabee voters that may be looking for an alternative to McCain.
Comment by Consider This — April 30, 2008 @ 4:37 pm
JT, I didn’t say Bright will win, only that he can win. Here’s another number for you, based on actual 2008 primary results - I know, primary results are often not a predictor of general results- but it’s all I have to work with. AL-02: 85827 Dem voters, 93432 Rep voters (source NY Times). Bright needs only maintain his Dem base and swing 5% of Rep votes to win. Clearly, it’s going to be a lot closer race that most of us expected.
Comment by Consider This — April 30, 2008 @ 4:32 pm
Re comment 795,
Do you have an example of AEA polls that has shown to be biased? The few AEA polls that I have known about have shown to be fairly accurate. For example, in the recent House District 12 special election, they showed James Fields to be way ahead while ALFA and others believed that Willingham would win or be very close. In the end, Fields did win by a large margin as AEA’s poll had suggested.
If the polls were regularly biased and/or wrong, then they would be of limited value even (or especially) to AEA.
So I would be interested to know of some occasions when their polls have shown to be inaccurate. (More than one occasion would be ideal, since the most reputable pollsters miss the mark occasionally, but I’ll take what I can get.)
Thanks.
Comment by Danny — April 30, 2008 @ 2:14 pm
How has he lied in this election cycle? Just because you don’t like what he says doesn’t mean it’s a lie folks. Hell, I don’t know who to vote for! I like Schmidtke and Woods more and more. I don’t need anyone that has been in the state legislature apparently.
Comment by BBB — April 30, 2008 @ 2:03 pm
OMG - don’t ever quote me an AEA poll. No one is more biased. wake up!
Comment by Wow...AEA? — April 30, 2008 @ 2:01 pm
Jboner, I cannot speak for Smith, but the absolute world-lying champion in this race is Jay Love. His FCPA report from 2002 is a sort of masterpiece of untruth. It is mind-boggling in the lengths it goes to in lying to Love’s house district. And don’t forget, he ran a blatantly, undeniably false ad about Bob McKee on election eve that resulted in his (Love’s) razor thin election (only 100 votes). Without the lies, he loses. And he appears to be following the same script in this election. He’s just dirty. I can’t speak for the others on that, but there is no truth in Love.
Comment by Lie Dtector — April 30, 2008 @ 12:21 pm
# 784
31% of voters, statewide,identify themselves as Independent, up from 21% in 1999. AEA poll, 2007.
Comment by Consider This — April 30, 2008 @ 10:29 am
I agree that Smith will look folks in the face, smile, and tell them what the want to hear. then she will turn around and do just the opposite of what she told you. lie to your face? sure, let’s just be frank about it.
Comment by JBoner — April 30, 2008 @ 7:07 am
I would vote for John Martin,i just met him 3 wks ago he’s a very nice man,a veteran,smart,looking out for the Miltary (Ft Rucker) etc. he wins my vote as for Harri Anne Smith and Bobby bright they will not get my vote and a lot of people feels the same.She will look you in the face and lie to you.
Comment by HR — April 30, 2008 @ 12:19 am
she probably went to meet with her consultant to discuss the latest poll she has run that tells her what policy decisions to make. believe me, she didn’t return straight to montgomery. from folks at the debate, i understand that she bolted for the door just as the questions from the audience were to begin. everyone else stayed…but her…
Comment by JohnJohn — April 29, 2008 @ 10:24 pm
MH,
Do you know where she went after the… I mean, in the middle of the debate?
Comment by Anonymous — April 29, 2008 @ 9:38 pm
Sen Smith supporters: How do you feel about the tens of millions of dollars that Senator Smith raised in cellular phone taxes a few years ago?
Comment by VoteWoods! — April 29, 2008 @ 9:35 pm
WHAT A SHOCK - SMITH RUNS OUT ON TOUGH QUESTIONS! “I have a prior commitment…” Gee, is that her answer to everything.
Below is a posting from Danny on the main page.
Smith Leaves Morning Forum Early
Filed under: Campaign & Election, AL and DC — Danny @ 12:14 pm
In Dothan this morning, 2nd Congressional District candidates attended the last of three debates/forums sponsored by AARP, the National Federation of Independent Business, Troy University, and WSFA-TV. The first one was televised, and State Sen. Harri Anne Smith garnered attention for missing the only televised debate. The second two forums featured questions from the audience.
The word this morning is that as soon as questions from the audience started, Sen. Smith got up and left, saying she had a prior commitment. The legislative session starts up again today, but the Senate begins an hour later than the House. She left Representatives David Grimes and Jay Love sitting there answering questions, leading Grimes to ask, “Why does it take longer for a Senator to get to Montgomery than a House Member?”
Sometimes perception and reality are the same, and sometimes they are not, but the perception that Smith may have to address is that she is ducking public appearances particularly that involve public interaction
Comment by BBB — April 29, 2008 @ 1:28 pm
It has been repeatedly stated on this thread that bright would “win the tri counties” and even if he didn’t win autauga and elmore, that he would be close in those counties. I can read.
But, it will not even be close in those counties in my view. bright will not do well as a D in those two places.
Comment by JT — April 29, 2008 @ 9:17 am
JT - NO ONE said Bright would do well in Autauga and Elmore. What was explicitly stated that his margin in Montgomery would allow him to carry the tri-counties. You need to read more closely.
Comment by JT - no — April 29, 2008 @ 9:09 am
where are you getting 30% indy? I don’t doubt that - but we don’t register in AL for a certain party so there is no way to know that figure. It is correct, though, that Bright has a much better shot with Obama than Clinton. But those counting on him to do really well in autauga and elmore and just way off base. there are two of the most R leaning counties in the district.
Comment by JT — April 28, 2008 @ 9:01 pm
Here’s why I think Bright can win if Obama is the Dem candidate. Obama’s change platform will result in a a higher voter turn out among Dems and Indies. Thus, Bright garners most (90% or more) of the black votes in D2, a huge chunk of the Indies in D2, and a portion of the moderate Reps in the tri-county area due to his popularity. The war and the economy are going to drive many voters to consider a Dem Pres candidate. If that candidate is Obama, Bright benefits. If Hillary is nominated, anything could happen. D2 is clearly a Rep leaning district, but does have a history of “mixing up the ticket”, primarily, IMO, due to the 30% Indie constituency. By the way, I am a Rep leaning Indie, who rarely votes a straight ticket.
Comment by Consider This — April 28, 2008 @ 6:29 pm
I agree with JohnJohn. The only folks that are saying how well Bright will do in very republican counties like Autauga and Elmore, are those that have an agenda of their own…to promote a Wiregrass candidate. I think it is biased and not a realistic way of looking at how Bright will do in those counties. He will not do well. He may in Montgomery, but not in Autauga and Elmore.
Comment by JT — April 28, 2008 @ 5:13 pm
You guys are not looking at the history and the current make up of elmore and autauga. He will not even be close running as a dem.
Comment by JohnJohn — April 28, 2008 @ 3:28 pm