BREAKING: ALFA Declines to Endorse…
I am hearing now from a solid source that ALFA has declined to endorse any candidate for Governor or Lt. Governor.
In 2002, the ALFA endorsed Republicans Bob Riley for Governor and Bill Armistead for Lt. Governor, but not this year. Lingering hard feelings over Riley’s Amendment One tax proposal in 2003 likely cost him the endorsement, and he will not need it.
However, I understand that Luther Strange has been working ALFA hard for the endorsement, and it must be a disappointment to his campaign not to receive it. While ALFA typically leans toward the GOP and its candidates, they appear to be hedging their bets in the close Lt. Governor’s race this year.
Not to disagree with the main point of your story, but I doubt quite seriously ALFA is “hedging its bets” on the Lieutenant Governor’s race. Remember, ALFA backed Bill Armistead against Lucy Baxley, despite the fact that Baxley led Armistead in every major poll. If ALFA was trying to back only winners, they never would have endorsed Armistead.
The reason ALFA is not endorsing Strange comes from his own personal proximity to Governor Riley who, as you suggest, ALFA has not forgiven for Amendment One.
Comment by Anonymous — October 31, 2006 @ 5:01 pm
Is it irony or something else that the day after a debate in which Luther Strange invoked his close relationship with Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, Strange’s close personal friend Bob Riley announced: “It’s always been us and Mississippi, hasn’t it? We kind of take turns being last. After the next four years, you will never hear ‘Thank God for Mississippi’ ever again.”
Comment by Roy — October 31, 2006 @ 6:33 pm
They wouldn’t hold back their endorsement if the race was close.
Comment by Altoid — October 31, 2006 @ 10:55 pm
not sure i buy the argument that strange’s “personal proximity” to Riley cost him the endorsement, while Troy King, a Riley appointee and total hack, got the ALFA endorsement.
I think it’s more along the lines of danny’s post.
Comment by Anonymous — October 31, 2006 @ 11:48 pm
Good comments, all.
Anonymous #1, the most noteworthy part of the story, imo, is that ALFA did not endorse Strange. I do not know why they didn’t, but the Lt. Governor’s race has a little more import this election with the ongoing rumor that Riley would like the option to step down early (to appoint himself Senator if Shelby retires early or if the VP slot were a possibility - the former a bit more likely than the latter, imo) if Republican Strange is elected. And the new Lt. Gov. presumably has a leg up on the Governor’s spot in four years. You may be right about the reason though.
Roy, heh…
Altoid, are you suggesting the race is not close? I would enjoy hearing you elaborate a little bit.
Anonymous #2, good point about King.
Interesting…
Comment by Danny — November 1, 2006 @ 8:35 am
ALFA has a quarterly magazine it mails to all policy holders called “Friends & Family”. The winter issue arrived about a week ago and on page 14 it lists ALFA endorsements for Governor, Lt. Governor, all congressional districts, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor and numerous other offices. In it ALFA does not endorse anyone for the first two offices above. In total ALFA endorses 4 Democrats and 22 Republicans. The 4 Democrats are Bud Cramer, Artur Davis, Ron Sparks, and Jan Cook. Some of the Republicans endorsed are: Troy King for AG, Drayton Nabors for Chief Justice, Beth Chapman for SOS, Kay Ivey for Treasurer, Sam Shaw for Auditor, Perry Hooper for PSC Place 2, and Betty Peters for Board of Education District 2.
On pages 12 and 13 ALFA lists some endorsements in counties all across the state.
Comment by Don — November 1, 2006 @ 8:41 am
Thanks, Don! Very informative.
Although clearly it was a bit of a misnomer to label this post “Breaking.”
Thanks, again, Don!
Comment by Danny — November 1, 2006 @ 9:43 am
Danny if you have any particular office in mind that I didn’t name, ask me by email if it’s listed and I’ll send it to you if it is.
Comment by Don — November 1, 2006 @ 10:29 am
I meant with regard to Riley/Baxley. The non-Strange endorsement baffles me.
Comment by Altoid — November 1, 2006 @ 11:13 am