Posted by We have several changes to the AL-05 Big List… including that there is a new handy dandy link to the AL-05 Big List now in the sidebar.
Republican Madison County Commissioner Mo Brooks is definitely in, we hear in the Parlor. And speaking of which, a reader pointed out that while some might call Mo Brooks “a 15%er,” his numbers in this district were quite good when he ran for Lt. Governor against Luther Strange and George Wallace, Jr. in 2006. He pulled over 44% of the vote and easily finished first among voters in this district. He finished third overall among all state voters.
Update: In one corner, we hear he’s definitely in. In another we hear he’s definitely interested, but not definitely in.
CQPolitics has State Democratic Executive Director Jim Spearman saying that Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks is one of the possible Democratic candidates mentioned most often for the seat. I’m trying to remember the last Alabama race for which Sparks was not mentioned as a possible participant. Might have been on an oval in Talladega.
Dana Beyerle reports that state Senator Parker Griffith is giving serious thought to the race, and adds a line that I’ll probably consider too hard and too long: “State Sen. Tom Butler, D-Madison, is being courted by Gov. Bob Riley to run as a Republican.” And indeed, the last report heard here is that, unless something changes, Butler will run for the seat as a Republican.
Republican Madison County Commissioner Dale Strong is out, and so is Cramer’s Chief of Staff Carter Wells.
There is some talk that Republican advertising executive Wayne Parker may get in. He barely missed unseating Cramer in 1994.
In the race, Democrats are looking at a potential 2-0 advantage in Parkers (with Susan Parker and Parker Griffith), and his presence would help close the Parker gap for the GOP.
All of these things are noted in the AL-05 Big List
Related Articles:
Legislative Dispatch
Purple Dot Connection
2010 Big List
2010 Senate Elections
2010 House Elections
Press Releases
Mo Brooks may be in, but that’s not what I heard him say on Dale Jackson’s WVNN show yesterday morning. He said he had a lot of things to take into consideration before he could decide, including holding a family discussion. Dale said that he would consider him to be running in spite of what Mo said.
I strongly believe Mo will run, but as Don said he has not officially tossed his hat in yet. I also believe he would be competitive in the district – certainly better than 15%, which is what he pulled in statewide while being outspent by over an order of magnitude.
Peanut Parker surprised Bud in 1994, Cramer didn’t make that mistake again – he started paid attention / lip service to issues (IIRC guns back then) AL-5 constituents care about. And he raised millions of $$$.
Re Mo Brooks… There’s a short time frame, people will be moving fast, and perhaps he decided after his appearance on Jackson’s radio show that this was the time to do it. I was told by someone close enough to know that Brooks called the party Friday and said he was definitely running.
[...] Many believed that Butler’s differences with Senate Democrats were more personal than political. Sen. E. B. McClain (D – Midfield) once described Butler’s relationship with the party as wounded. (Another Senate insider described it to the Parlor in much the same way. See also here.) Democrats had hoped that he would return to the party’s mainstream (for example, in 2000 he was a Gore delegate to the Democratic convention and in 2004 he endorsed Wesley Clark) to provide Senate Democrats a 21-vote, “filibuster-proof” majority. Instead, Riley has apparently welcomed Butler, and Butler has put aside unhappiness he was reported last year to have with Riley, at least to the point that he will run for Congress as a Republican. [...]
Following up on Mo Brooks… Hearing different things from good folks… I updated the post appropriately.
Let us know as you hear anything worth telling…
I’ve heard that Mike Gilespie, Chairman of the Madison County Commission, is also thinking about joining the race.
[...] Bud Cramer’s decision not to seek re-election to Alabama’s Congressional District 5 is going to make that for a pretty exciting Congressional race in Alabama finally. Danny’s been much more active than I have recently, so I’ll just point you to his post for a list of potential candidates and commentary. [...]