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I have heard a surprising rumor from three disparate sources: Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb is considering entering the 2010 race for governor. Supposedly AEA chief Paul Hubbert is trying to convince Cobb to jump into the Democratic field.
I also hear that those closest to her don’t necessarily think this is a good idea, but that she is interested enough to consider having some polling done on her viability.
A major reason this looks like a bad idea from this perspective is that she would have to resign her position at the Supreme Court to run for governor. There are no guarantees that she would win the nomination, let alone the general election. Would you give up one for only a chance at the other? A bird in the hand, and all that…
A yellow dog Democrat told the Parlor that there is little doubt that Cobb has aspirations for higher office and that she is considering the “things that make Roger Bedford, for God’s sake, think he has a chance to win,” for example, “the GOP is not showing a great candidate.”
She probably enjoys that people are talking about her as a potential candidate, he said, and added, “It really doesn’t make sense. Not only does it have the potential to do bad things [on the Democratic side of the race], it could end her future political career.”
My first inclination is to put it in with the Lilly Ledbetter for Congress rumors. It has a certain appeal, it’s fun to talk about, but ultimately just feels so unlikely to happen.
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The problem with this rumor is that Chief Justice Cobb is a big supporter of Representative Davis. I have heard in the past that she wouldn’t run against him.
She can retire from her position on the court so the resignation aspect isn’t that big of a deal.
Not happening. End of story.
Please no more cheesy gospel hymn ads!!! No!!!!
This is more than a rumor – it’s in full blown consideration mode.
She could win the general election. I’m not sure Davis could win, even if he put together a real campaign.
But the democrats are in position were it does look like the Republicans are in weak spot to hold the Governorship. UNTIL you look at the Democrat race and
realize Davis’ is probably absolutely destroying the Democrats chances in the race.
Davis has moved all the way to the hard left since his buddy Obama won.
So you will have a guy who supports bailouts for billionare bankers, supports tax increases, supports wild spending across the board, only wants to cut defense, pro-abortion etc.. in a November election for Alabama governor?! HE CANNOT WIN, the Republicans could not lose to him if they tried they could run former governor Fob James and win.
Or the Democrats can beat him down and it would take a strong beating to stop him for getting the primary nod and in the process divide the party and doom themselves that way.
And even there they may not have a candidate strong enough to do that.
Its not Bedford because Davis can hit back on Bedford’s corruption.
It might be Sparks – but now that he is playing in the big leagues – I suspect we find out he is way overated guy.
So I would recommend to the Democrats focus on the other races.
And think of all the things you can do to Davis after you lose in November 2010.
Of course, he will probably then go off to work for his buddy Obama and never return to Alabama.
And if that is true at least one good thing will come out it all for the state!
Cobb would be the Jack Hawkins of the Democratic field. Someone who looks good until the basic opposition research gets done. One big liability – on the Supreme Court, she voted to require that al drivers license exams be given in spanish. That won’t play well in the rural pockets. Second, when she was on the court of criminal appeals, she joined in reversing some very high profile convictions — if memory serves me right, at least one cop killer’s conviction was reversed. She also has a history of ruling in cases where there is a conflict of interest. At least that’s been the word among the defense bar. Also, Drayton Nabors team dug up a lot of ties between Cobb and far left organizations around the county.
Hard to see how she does any better with black voters than Hillary did in Alabama. I do think a Davis/Cobb/Sparks race would be very spirited, but at the end of the day, Davis comes out of it on top.
The winner here (if she does get in): Republicans by two touchdowns — they get a very divisive Democratic primary, AND they pick up the Chief Justice seat without spending a dime.
That’s a bit harsh, but I do think that David lives in his own world. It’s like he’s saying, “I can’t believe Obama did it! I can do it too!” But Obama had 50 states to play in, and he has the personality and charisma. Davis will have to answer for his voting record, his donors (which won’t be from AL), and somehow appeal to conservative white voters (which include the Dems!). $20 million, the perfect message, a VERY damaged GOP candidate, and NO primary… and then he maybe, just maybe could get to 50.1%.
The Nabers campaign tried all that stuff on Cobb… and then some. I’m not saying she’s bulletproof, but it will be hard to make her seem like a liberal. It’s easier to paint David with that brush. And Hillary got her butt kicked because the Dem primary became flooded with Obama voters. Davis is not going to be able to repeat that.
One more thought: I read the post about Davis’ money from his federal account. That’s money from Washington lobbyists. Some reporter is going to start combing through it all.
Davis will have his hands full with his own party during the Primary.
Holy cow! That was easy. Here are the industries that support Davis. And when you line the list up to who got us into the financial crisis — banks, investment firms and real estate speculators. It’s a perfect match.
Lawyers/Law Firms $546,155
Pro-Israel $273,240
Real Estate $233,726
Insurance $233,649
Securities & Investment $228,396
Commercial Banks $196,991
Health Professionals $163,334
Davis desperatly needed to move to the right and make himself more conservative that Bright.
When Davis decided to move to the left and support Obama all the way he doomed himself come November.
Why did he do that. Well Mr. Wade you already know the answer.
Folow the money, he is appealing for that big business and out of state liberal money.
He is their puppet. But it won’t work for Davis.
Remember it didn’t even come close to working for Obama in this State.
And with Obama in the White House and with Davis both supporting all of Obama’s agend and even personally tied to him – the people will be able to demonstrate there disgust with the Obama’s agenda by voting against Davis.
And by November 2010, Obama going to be far more unpopular than he is now.
Obama’s still on the honeymoon remember!
You hear all kinds of wild rumors at this point for open seats. In Tennessee for instance theres one going around that Tim McGraw is going to run for Governor as a democrat next year. In Mississippi theres a few going around that actress Sela Ward will run for Lt Governor in two years as a GOPer.
When will Barkley run for Alabama? HA!
8. Jack Hawkins doesn’t hold statewide office. Its hard to compare him to Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb. She won a statewide race that was unwinable.
Also, Drayton Nabors tried all kinds of things to tarnish her name and so will everybody in every contested race in the state. They all have negatives. They are all politicians. People are becoming less and less responsive to negatives.
At the end of the day, I think she would have a tough time winning the primary but would be a better general election candidate for her party.
A real primary will reveal to the state’s voters that for all of his plusses, Davis’s biggest minus is his extreme petulance.
Andy,
What did Drayton Nabers do to “tarnish” Cobb’s name during the campaign? I don’t remember him doing that.
I know that we don’t have real Party conventions (or real Parties). But both sides would be smart to get some of these candidates in a room and decide who the right guy/girl should be.
I cant imagine CJ Cobb giving up her seat on the Sup. Ct. She might be getting pulled from AEA but she is probably getting pushed to stay out by Trial Lawyers Associaion. In the end, she gets talked about but wont do it. Just my .02 worth.
Sue Bell Cobb could run and win a higher office. If she so chose, I could see her following in the footsteps of Howell Heflin and becoming a US Senator if a seat opened up. But she would be pretty foolish to jump into this governor’s race.
Add big bucks trial lawyer Larry Morris to the list of Dems pushing Cobb to run. He blames Davis for his daughter not getting the nod for US attorney in Montgomery. Trial lawyers at large, though, don’t want to lose the chief justice job to a Riley appointment. It will be interesting to see where SB Cobb polls. I have heard that AEA included her name in some of its governor’s samples and that she was well behind both Davis and Folsom.
Riley might bring Nabors back!?
[...] Doc’s Political Parlor: Chief Justice Cobb Considering Governor’s Race. [...]
Riley could also appoint Jim Main. He would be more viable in future elections.
History tells us if you are appointed by Riley you are not viable.
[...] Associated Press and Dana Beyerle have versions of the “Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb might run for Governor” story that you saw here Wednesday. [...]