Bobby Bright “95% Sure” He’s In
Last night at the National Peanut Festival, Dothan again hosted a meeting for all the mayors and city councils of the 2nd Congressional District. Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright attended for the first time since being elected mayor in 1999 and was overheard to say that he was “95% sure” that he was going to run for the 2nd Congressional District. Whether he runs as a Democrat or Republican, he was not saying.
Related Articles:
If he runs as a rep. he will not be accepted by rep. voters in the primary. His best shot is to run as a dem. as he would walk away with that primary. In the general election, he may have trouble as it is a rep seat but it all depends on who the republicans nominate.
Comment by WiregrassVoter — November 9, 2007 @ 1:22 pm
This is a local race. Regardless of party affiliation, Bright has an impressive record and that will matter to people more than a label.
Comment by Lyn Johnson — November 9, 2007 @ 1:42 pm
Are you kidding me Lyn? This is not a local Mayor’s race. If you think the R or D by their name will not matter in an open seat then you are kidding yourself in a big way. Bright knows it as well and that is why he is trying to decide between running as an R or a D. And the fact that it is a Presidential election year as well…believe me..it will matter. He is a good candidate but Dems should not fool themselves that this is an uphill battle to change the seat from R to D.
Comment by PikeCountyguy — November 9, 2007 @ 1:54 pm
It is an uphill battle, but Bright is choosing between a walk to the Democratic nomination and a very ugly struggle for the Republican nod. This is a conservative-leaning district, but I think Bright has a strong enough resume and conservative-enough credentials to compete against a candidate like Harri Anne Smith or Jay Love. Sure, the Republicans will be favored, but I honestly believe that the electoral landscape next year will be much different than most insiders expect. I’m not sure if that favors Democrats or Republicans in a state like Alabama.
Comment by SamfordDem — November 9, 2007 @ 2:01 pm
By the way, I meant Bright could be competitive with those folks in the general. I do believe he would have a hard time convincing Republican primary voters to get behind him instead of Smith or Love.
Comment by SamfordDem — November 9, 2007 @ 2:02 pm
Agree that Bright would be a substantial candidate but the district leans R. If Rs nominate someone weak, there could be trouble ahead.
Comment by JT — November 9, 2007 @ 2:18 pm
Danny - Bright has been to the event once before…about 3 years ago. It was wondered then if he was eyeing the congressional seat. he has roots in the wiregrass also so i am sure he sees this seat as something he can win. I doubt he can as a democrat and I doubt he will be accepted as a republican. but, he is the best shot the democrats have and he would have an easy primary and could raise money easier as a democrat so i bet he rolls the dice and runs as one.
Comment by GOPer — November 9, 2007 @ 2:46 pm
Ya’ll think the fact that Bobby lives in the Third (3rd) Cong. District will be any problem for him?
Comment by JD — November 9, 2007 @ 3:59 pm
Bright is getting his team organized and will run as a Republican. Winton Blount and Will Sellers are going to help him secure the GOP base in Montgomery. With Bright’s large family still in the wiregrass, he will be formidable.
Comment by Carey — November 9, 2007 @ 4:03 pm
Really? It seems like Bright and Love would both be splitting the mongomery base and Harri Anne Smith would clean up in the Wiregrass. Kind of sad to see. I thought Bright could at least make this a respectable showing for the Democrats.
Comment by SamfordDem — November 9, 2007 @ 4:33 pm
[…] I had opportunity to talk to Bobby Bright this afternoon. (I could not reach him before this earlier post went up.) […]
Pingback by Bright Confirms Serious Interest in AL-02 Race » Doc’s Political Parlor — November 9, 2007 @ 4:39 pm
GOPer in comment 7,
Thanks for that note about Bright attending this event previously. I talked to him since this post went up, and he said that he had attended this particular meeting three of the four years it had met. The follow-up post is here.
SamfordDem,
Carey (comment 9) might be right, but if I were a betting man, I would bet that Bright runs as a Democrat.
Comment by Danny — November 9, 2007 @ 4:45 pm
Carey - I bet Harri Anne hopes you are right and Bright runs as a republican and splits votes with Love. I agree with Samford Dem though, it is sad that Harri Anne, a lackluster candidate, could clean up in the wiregrass and win because the Montgomery candidates split votes. That is exactly what the wiregrass group is hoping for. In terms of Bright and Dale County think again. No one knows him around the wiregrass like the know harri anne. He better have a huge family and they better vot 5 times each if he expects to get any votes here as a republican. He is by far better off to take his chances and run as a dem even though it leans republican.
Comment by JT — November 9, 2007 @ 5:34 pm
Bright is a hard working man and would be good for either party.!!!He also has a large FAMILY that can work hard for him also!!
Comment by Shelby — November 10, 2007 @ 11:48 am
Bright is well known around this area from his family’s roots.He’s an excellent candidate for either party.He does what he thinks is right ,no if’s or but’ts about it. I think he would be a good condidate in either party.He has family that are good upstanding citizins in almost all area’s in Alabama.In my opinion he would be hard to beat.We need more like him in Washington.
Comment by Ozark native — November 10, 2007 @ 2:18 pm
Mr Bright is a very good candidate,sooo glad to see he is thinking about it!!Can’t think of any one any better.
Comment by Dothan area — November 10, 2007 @ 2:23 pm
Best Mayor we have ever had.Would make a very good congressman too!!
Comment by Monty — November 10, 2007 @ 2:27 pm
I see Bright’s family is no on here blogging from the last 3 posts or so. Give me a break.
Comment by JT — November 10, 2007 @ 3:30 pm
I SEE a MAN that is a MAN !!He doesn’t care what anyone says and he doesn’t care who knows it.!! Glad to see he is thinking about running for Congress.If there was more men in politics like him ,you would see this country turn around..There’s too many now that if you will cratch their back ,they will cratch yours.We don’t need them.WE need men that can stand on their on two feet!!!!HE IS THE ONE, BELIEVE IT.
Comment by Shirley — November 11, 2007 @ 7:57 am
If that is true about Bright (post 19) then more power to him. Everett stood for what be believed in and if Bright can follow that lead then great.
Comment by Stephen — November 11, 2007 @ 2:34 pm