Comments on: HD 12 Race Near End http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2008/01/25/hd-12-race-near-end/ & Home of Lawn Mower Repair Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:41:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: walt moffett http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2008/01/25/hd-12-race-near-end/#comment-16729 Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:45:36 +0000 http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2008/01/25/hd-12-race-near-end/#comment-16729 SamfordDem, I think your last line could apply to any political contest in Alabama. SamfordDem, I think your last line could apply to any political contest in Alabama.

]]> by: SamfordDem http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2008/01/25/hd-12-race-near-end/#comment-16726 Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:16:21 +0000 http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2008/01/25/hd-12-race-near-end/#comment-16726 Maybe I'm wrong, but I think a lot of people are making uninformed assumptions about this election because of race. Fields is not some carpetbagger put up by the AEA and the ADC because they couldn't find anyone else, he is a man born and raised in Cullman with a long history of working with and for the people of this county. He demolished a primary opponent who had every conceivable advantage in terms of establishment support, organization, and fundraising. People here know James Fields; I haven't seen any polls but I would venture a guess that his name ID is much higher than Willingham. There is as much genuine enthusiasm for this race on the Democratic side as any local race I have ever seen. On the other hand, there is very little enthusiasm on the Republican side, except for the very motivated Council of Conservative Citizens wing of the Republican party. A lot of the county establishment do not care much for Willingham, but he has a small but fierce core of support that usually delivers enough votes for him to win local elections. Willingham's history as a member of the Southern Party and the League of the South, in addition to the fact that he is not originally from Cullman, have not helped among the city's old political hands. Basically, this race is not exactly what it appears, which is why, if and when the result shocks a lot of people around the Southeast, it will not shock people from Cullman. Maybe I’m wrong, but I think a lot of people are making uninformed assumptions about this election because of race. Fields is not some carpetbagger put up by the AEA and the ADC because they couldn’t find anyone else, he is a man born and raised in Cullman with a long history of working with and for the people of this county. He demolished a primary opponent who had every conceivable advantage in terms of establishment support, organization, and fundraising.

People here know James Fields; I haven’t seen any polls but I would venture a guess that his name ID is much higher than Willingham. There is as much genuine enthusiasm for this race on the Democratic side as any local race I have ever seen.

On the other hand, there is very little enthusiasm on the Republican side, except for the very motivated Council of Conservative Citizens wing of the Republican party. A lot of the county establishment do not care much for Willingham, but he has a small but fierce core of support that usually delivers enough votes for him to win local elections. Willingham’s history as a member of the Southern Party and the League of the South, in addition to the fact that he is not originally from Cullman, have not helped among the city’s old political hands.

Basically, this race is not exactly what it appears, which is why, if and when the result shocks a lot of people around the Southeast, it will not shock people from Cullman.

]]> by: Look at the Index http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2008/01/25/hd-12-race-near-end/#comment-16719 Fri, 25 Jan 2008 15:21:23 +0000 http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2008/01/25/hd-12-race-near-end/#comment-16719 It shows that Cullman is not nearly as Republican as most people consider it. Funding, trained workers, GOTV efforts all make a difference, whether you "wishfully think" they won't or not. It shows that Cullman is not nearly as Republican as most people consider it.

Funding, trained workers, GOTV efforts all make a difference, whether you “wishfully think” they won’t or not.

]]> by: Danny http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2008/01/25/hd-12-race-near-end/#comment-16717 Fri, 25 Jan 2008 15:01:25 +0000 http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2008/01/25/hd-12-race-near-end/#comment-16717 I would be surprised too, but I know the quality of the source, so I am comfortable passing this on. And of course, being ahead in any poll is a <i>long</i> way from winning, especially in a special election. I would be surprised too, but I know the quality of the source, so I am comfortable passing this on.

And of course, being ahead in any poll is a long way from winning, especially in a special election.

]]> by: How many votes can AEA actually deliver here? http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2008/01/25/hd-12-race-near-end/#comment-16715 Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:56:33 +0000 http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2008/01/25/hd-12-race-near-end/#comment-16715 And I apologize for the spelling mistakes - we'll know soon if I am as bad at political predictions of races I know very little about . . . And I apologize for the spelling mistakes - we’ll know soon if I am as bad at political predictions of races I know very little about . . .

]]> by: How many votes can AEA actually deliver here? http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2008/01/25/hd-12-race-near-end/#comment-16714 Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:55:12 +0000 http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2008/01/25/hd-12-race-near-end/#comment-16714 Danny - I really haven't kept up with this race and my knowledge of it is very limited, but I am going to hazard a guess here: I think that there is a good deal of "wisful thinking" involvd in some of the statements I have heard made by Democrats about this race. If Fields wins this - or in fact he even stays close - it flies in the face of basic political realities. I haven't looked at this race but I wsould be more than surprised if Fields wins. Danny - I really haven’t kept up with this race and my knowledge of it is very limited, but I am going to hazard a guess here: I think that there is a good deal of “wisful thinking” involvd in some of the statements I have heard made by Democrats about this race. If Fields wins this - or in fact he even stays close - it flies in the face of basic political realities.

I haven’t looked at this race but I wsould be more than surprised if Fields wins.

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