In The Arena
Hello, all. Glad to be here! Mr. Briggs and Mr. Stratton have been very kind to me so far, but those Sta-bil fumes were getting to be a little much. So I’m glad Danny asked me to come up front for a bit.
Here’s something the boys in the back have been chatting about: Yesterday, Attorney General Troy King announced that the Alabama Presidential Primary will be held on February 5, 2008. The change began with HB 358, introduced by Representatives Guin and Hubbard. One of the few things the legislature got done this session was to pass the measure on May 31. But Alabama history being what it is, that wasn’t the end of the story. Changes in voting procedures require the approval of the U.S. Justice Department, a legacy of the discrimination of an earlier era.
While other states vie for “first in the nation” status (and risk their delegates’ convention votes in the process) Alabama has suddenly become a player in the primary game. Visits and fundraisers for presidential hopefuls have already risen to levels not seen in recent memory. Last Wednesday, Mitt Romney swept through Alabama in search of some quick cash. His son Tagg, one of the Five Brothers, was also scheduled to plunk down the $5000 registration fee at state GOP headquarters for his dad to appear on the February ballot, but was unaccountably postponed.
Mobile denizens will be glad to know there are special measures in place for them. Since Feb. 5 coincides with Mardi Gras next year, the new law provides for absentee voting and an alternative poll date for pre-Lenten revellers. Laissez les bon temps rouler!
Iteresting that Troy King’s press release does not give the actual date for the primary.
Comment by Heyjay — September 1, 2007 @ 4:03 pm
I originially did not like the idea of this new primary date, then I went to liking the idea of us getting all this attention
from the national candidates, now I have come full circle. I think the national primary system is broke and we need to address
all this front loading.
Comment by Cam Ward — September 2, 2007 @ 8:11 am
What the latest about John McCain’s effort in Alabama? I think moving up the primary hurt him.
Comment by Cliff — September 2, 2007 @ 9:36 am
Looks like the best candidate we have so far.
Comment by Fred — September 2, 2007 @ 3:53 pm
I don’t see a lot of other opportunities on the Republican side. At least he has the guts to say what he thinks and no one
else seems to offer a decent alternative. Is there any other alternative?
Comment by Gov10 — September 2, 2007 @ 8:49 pm
I don’t know if this helps or hurts him, but there are even Democrats that like McCain and might even vote for him.
Comment by Roy — September 3, 2007 @ 3:52 pm