Posted by Bob Riley should run for President. Seriously.
Or Jeff Sessions. No, seriously.
I, personally, wouldn’t vote for either, and the chance they’d become president or even the GOP nominee is next to nil – but the existing field of Republican presidential candidates is undoubtedly missing a Southern candidate.
Of course, on paper Newt Gingrich could be classified as “Southern”. That myth can be debunked solely by noting Gingrich’s self-proclaimed favorite band (ABBA). Indeed, Gingrich was so desperate to get to out of the South that he ran and lost for Congress twice, before finally getting his ticket punched to DC on his third bid. And after leaving Congress in 1998, he’s lived in McLean, VA (a posh hamlet in Northern Virginia) – currently with his third wife (a Midwesterner). Newt Gingrich may have technically represented suburban Atlanta in Congress, but he’s about as “Southern” as …well, ABBA.
And Herman Cain and Buddy Roemer may be credible Southerners, but I do not believe them to be credible presidential candidates.
Mike Huckabee, who carried several Southern states in the ’08 primaries, would have entered the 2012 primary process counting the Southeast among his expected base. And some – like Haley Barbour, Rick Perry (perhaps still a possibility), Jim Demint (perhaps still a possibility), Jeb Bush or Bobby Jindal – who could have filled the Southern-sized vacuum left by Huckabee’s withdrawal, appear to have likewise taken a pass.
It’s hard to imagine that in today’s Republican Party, there is no real Southern candidate in a wide-open race for the party’s nomination. Huckabee emerged as the Southern guy in 2008, George W. Bush was always strong in his home region, and Tennessean Lamar(!) Alexander was even a top-tier candidate in 1996. Even as the GOP has become an increasingly Southern-dominated party, somehow there is no candidate to carry that torch in the 2012 presidential race.
Conventional wisdom has the Republican top tier consisting of: a former Governor of Massachusetts (Mitt Romney, by way of Utah and Michigan), a former Governor of Minnesota (Tim Pawlenty), and a former Governor of Utah (John Huntsman, by way of China). None have any connection, however remote, to the region that has come to identify today’s Republican Party. And the potential candidates with the most stylistic and ideological appeal to Southerners (at least those in the evangelical, conservative mold) hail from Alaska (Palin) or the Twin Cities’ suburbs (Bachmann).
Politics, like nature, usually abhors a vacuum – and it would seem there is a real opening for a candidate who would have a natural appeal to Southern Republicans. As a Republican Governor who left office fairly popular, Bob Riley certainly would have the potential to fill that void – as would Jeff Sessions, who is often the GOP face on all matters judicial.
Alabama is not alone in this regard – this same scenario could be floated for many other Republican governors and Senators across the South, as well. Ultimately, their success would depend on an ability to piece together a nation-wide fundraising and political network, which is difficult to do under any circumstance and especially for a relatively unknown candidate who gets a late start. However, Mike Huckabee wasn’t a national face of the Republican Party until he ran (a largely shoe-string campaign) in 2008, got some early traction, and developed a base in the South.
There is no guarantee of success of any kind for a Riley or a Sessions bid, but they could (if they catch some breaks) solidify some establishment support in the South and maybe even break into the top tier and win a few primaries. But most importantly, it would provide our state with something it hasn’t had since John Sparkman circa 1952 – an Alabamian with a chance to have a direct impact in determining who will sit in the White House for the next four years.
Zac McCrary is a Democratic pollster with Anzalone Liszt Research, a national public opinion research firm with offices in Montgomery, AL and Washington D.C. He is a former communications director for the Alabama Democratic Party, a past contributor to Campaigns and Elections Magazine, and a regular commentator on both state and national politics. You may reach him via email using his first name at anzaloneresearch dot com.
More trash from Riley haters like Max. They have nothing so out comes the ol’ “wide open secrets” about bad things yet — AS ALWAYS — no proof. And the secrets are so “wide open” that no one has anything.
That would be like me saying, “It is widely known among political insiders that Max is involved in some shady deals that are, quite possibly, illegal.”
See how I did that?
You are really pushing the line DA.
I have not been rude to you and you are way, way out of line with that highly inaccurate and inflammatory comment.
Frankly, I am surprised Doc’s let it stand.
Diff Anon, so please explain to me Riley’s worth as “chief negotiator” for Jefferson County with Wall Street? Or his wisdom in appointing an ADEM chief who thought buying a ridiculously expensive private plane was a good idea when Sout hWings does aerial surveillance for a pittance in a smaller plane better suited to surveying from the air?
And what’s with the venom you spewed at Max and Anon for their comments? Did they touch a vested-interest nerve?
One matter that never got attention but should have was Riley’s biggest donor was Jere Beasley and Beasley got more state legal contracts that any other law firm. Riley’s son also got big bucks doing deals with Beasley.
Strange for a conservative Republican.
I’m looking at campaign finance records, prince, and I ain’t seeing it.
Tweet from Bingo trial…..
BINGOTrial Beason asks Massey (on Riley’s folks going to MS gaming interests for $): “Why don’t they get nailed for that?” Massey: “They’re good.”
It’s interesting – from the bingo trial testimony – thst Beason and Massey both take it as a proven pont that Riley takes money from the Mississippi casinos. It’s a given to them.
Because they’re idiots. Seriously, are you listening to this trial? Beason coming across looking almost as bad as Massey, who admits he is a crook.
When this trial is over with I think you will get a clearer picture of how dark and dirty politics is in Alabama. I don’t think Beason, the Senator from FBC of Gardendale, was approached by the individuals who approached him unless they thought he was one who would listen if the number was right. He already admitted on the stand he took $10 K from HAS for “consulting”…..the guy has a GEOLOGY degree, what does he know about media? I can’t wait to hear why he didn’t tape conversations with Republicans other than Lewis who was paid off with a judgeship.
If Beason is the best the Feds have testifying God help them with the rest of their witnesses.
Most honest conservatives in Alabama have known for some time that Beason is a total screwup. Now everyone is finding out.
Beason now on record – under oath – saying that many Alabama Republicans favor indian gambling. Wonder who he is talking about?
The recording also show GOP senators using racial slurs. Hmmmmmmmmm
I guess I need to change my moniker to “aborigines democrat” since that is how Beason and his fellow Republicans view a large percentage of the States populace.
Segak beat Beason down like a puppy beats up the old dog…..Parkman will go for his balls………I bet Massey and Gilley wished they had stayed in the game… now
Wherever you stand politically or on gambling, Segall’s granchildren will someday boast of the beatdown Bobby gave Scott Beason on the stand the last 2 days. Wow.
SHOCKED that someone made the “This proves Reps are racist” claim. Do y’all honestly think that it would be difficult to find a group of Dems in this state to record talking about, say, GOTV money, and hear them making similar disparaging remarks? The recordings say something about those recorded, and that’s it.
Beason KNEW he was being recorded and still made racist remarks. That’s plain amazing.
As bad as it was for Beason under Segall’s croos examination, it’s been even worse with Parkman. I didn’t think that was possible. Parkman just pointed out that Beason has currently answered “I don’t recall” 66 times.
Beason’s career is imploding with this case.
Those 66 “I don’t recall” answers by Beason was only during Parkman’s questioniong – he answered “I don’t recall” 66 times in a little over 2 hours . . .with breaks in there . . .
Anthony Weiner is having a better week than Scott Beason.
I guess the question that needs to be asked is, “Will the Republican Party kick out Beason and Brooks for their racists comments?” If they don’t what will be the parties reaction?
The problem for Senator Smith is that the reality that Scott Beason has no class does not change her guilt.
Have they given up on updating this blog? Surely with the bingo trial there would be something to post in the last 2 weeks.