CQ Politics on AL Congressional Races
Posted by ReactionaryCQ Politics, Alabama Open House Seats Provide New Front in Wake of GOP Southern Setbacks, writes “The political problems faced by the Republican Party have become national in nature, even in the conservative South, where the GOP’s long ascendancy has recently been blunted. This trend can be seen in microcosm in the two open-seat House races this year in Alabama”.
“When your Parker Griffiths and your Bobby Brights try to run as conservative Democrats this year and their party aligns itself with one of the most liberal figures in D.C. . . . it’s going to be hard to separate from that,” said Philip Bryan, director of Alabama’s Republican Party.
But Democratic leaders disagree. “That’s apples and oranges,” said Alabama Democratic Party Executive Director Jim Spearman about the differences between the candidates’ ideological orientation and that of the House Democrats’ top leadership…
Though Republicans succeeded for years in slapping the liberal label on numerous Democratic candidates in the South, the outcomes of the recent House special elections call that strategy into question for this year’s campaigns…
CQPolitics currently rates the 5th District race as No Clear Favorite and the 2nd District contest as Leans Republican. Both categories denote races that are deemed as highly competitive.
IMO the AL GOP better step up their game, yelling ‘Liberal!’ does not work anymore, if it ever did. And they better figure out who they’re running against - Nancy Pelosi isn’t on the ballot anywhere in Alabama.
In the AL-05 race: Parker Griffith is running as a ‘blue dog’, no one can outspend him, and on the surface, he’s good on many issues (he’s for affordable health care and improved access, increased education funding, good on illegal immigration, supports the Farm Bill - which includes an Alabama water reservoir program, plus supports military spending and missile defense). Griffith will be tough to beat.
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May 29th, 2008 at 11:40 am
I would generally agree with CQ’s assessment. The 5th is a tough race to assess. I would have generally agreed with conventional wisdom with concern of a GOP takeover of the seat upon Cramer’s retirement, but not so much now. I think the race will be hard fought and will be largely determined on how much cover McCain can supply for the GOP nominee. As far as the Everett seat is concerned, I think the Democrat is probably doomed. I think is a little early for my official prediction on the seat, but it probably does a little more than lean Republican. Terry Everett has been one of the worst Reps in the Alabama delegation over the past several years (which may be why his retiring) and they still sent him to D.C. If this is any indicator, Mayor Bright may be sadly disappointed.
May 29th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
One thing working against republicans using the “liberal” label these days, is the republicans are runnings as liberals.