Ex-Judge Moore leads Riley in Alabama poll

United Press International ^ | January 18, 2005 | UPI

[PDR]

Ex-Judge Moore leads Riley in Alabama poll

MOBILE, Ala., Jan. 18 (UPI) -- The latest Mobile (Ala.) Register poll shows ex-Chief Justice Roy Moore would defeat Gov. Bob Riley in the 2006 Republican gubernatorial primary by 8 points.

Moore, who was forced from office after disobeying a federal judge's order to remove a Ten Commandments monument from the rotunda of the state's judicial building, led Riley 43 percent to 35 percent among likely GOP primary voters.

The University of South Alabama poll also showed 72 percent of those surveyed viewed Moore favorably, something University of Alabama political scientist William Stewart called "intimidating."

With Greenville, Ala., businessman Tim James also in the mix, Moore's lead over Riley increased to 10 points. James, the son of former Gov. Fob James, polled at 4 percent in a three-way contest with Riley and Moore.

USA political scientist Keith Nicholls, who directed the poll, said of the 2006 Republican nomination for governor, "It's Moore's for the taking."

The survey, conducted Monday through Thursday, includes responses from 400 Alabama adults who identified themselves as likely Republican primary voters. The results carry a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

[zzen01]

:-)!!!!!!!!

[MplsSteve]

The important question to ask here is...

Can Moore defeat the probable Democrat nominee?

The general electorate in Alabama may be conservative but they're nowhere near as far to the right as GOP primary voters.

By defeating Riley in the primary, would the GOP actually improve that chances for the Dem nominee?

Anyone?

[CWW]

Got news for you -- Moore was a trial lawyer judge when he was on the Circuit Court, and he continued to take their money in his Supreme Court campaign.

Although I am for public displays of the Ten Commandments, I am not for Judges with private agendas (liberal, conservative or otherwise).

[sinkspur]

This is what that 10 Commandment brouhaha was about in the first place.

[Poohbah]

Whats funny to watch is all these big tent Republicans squirm when a strong conservative runs for office.

Moore was given what me and thee never get with the federal court--a mulligan, and how to win so that he could continue to display the Ten Commandments in his courtroom.

He didn't take the hint. He wasn't interested in displaying the Ten Commandments, except as a marketing tool; he was (and remains) interested solely in selling snake oil. He isn't a "strong" conservative, he's just annoying.

Looks like the tent is not big enough for this conservative and how dare him to question these federal judges authority.

If Judge Moore didn't have that title in front of his name, he'd still be doing time for contempt after his tantrum in front of the federal bench.

[NurdlyPeon]

Although I am for public displays of the Ten Commandments, I am not for Judges with private agendas (liberal, conservative or otherwise).

1) Find me a judge anywhere who doesn't have any kind of agenda (i.e. who is 100% impartial about everything). 2) If he is running for governor, he is not acting as a judge, is he? 3)If someone has to have an agenda, I want it to be the same as my agenda.

[Poohbah]

I wish moore Republicans would pitch a fit in Federal Court instead of bending over and grabbing their ankles.

In other words, you want more Republicans to lose cases that they could win. That's exactly what Moore opted to do.

[Southack]

"The general electorate in Alabama may be conservative but they're nowhere near as far to the right as GOP primary voters."

We're pretty far to the right. 72% of our state views Moore favorably, for instance.

But Riley would be writing his own ticket if he hadn't made a terrible strategic blunder by reversing his decades of anti-tax federal stances while he was a Congressman...when he proposed the largest state income tax increase in the entire history of Alabama during his first year as Governor (voted down by more than 2 to 1, a major political embarassment).

So the 2006 election is more (pun intended) than just about Moore; it's also about Riley's error.

Even so, our previous *Democratic* Party governor was endorsed by the NRA. Liberalism isn't about to break out down here, regardless of who wins in 2006!

In fact, I'd wager that the 2006 campaign won't even revolve around pro-life, pro-gun, or even pro-Iraq-war "issues"...it'll be more likely to be about Riley's tax proposal mistake, Moore's federal 10 Commandments defiance, and Seigelman's (previous Dem governor) federal court indictment.

Yawn. This is *not* a hyper-critical election.

Rob Riley, the governor's son, did corner me the other day when I was in town. He knows that his dad is going to have to have some serious money to beat Moore...the question is what would that money change for Alabama? We've already got tort reform, a Republican state Supreme Court, and low taxes. Unemployment is low here, interest rates are low here, even the weather is fine here. Everywhere you look we're building homes and offices and opening new companies all around the state.

Now, if Judge Pryor loses his federal court appointment, then that would upset our tranquil applecart. Forget a Democrat being competitive for Governor here if that happens. This state would issue a payback in a big way if our state's favorite son got cheated by Fat Teddy in D.C.

Ditto for any blue state court telling us that we have to recognize their gay marriage rulings. Nor would Alabama forgive Democrats if any Kyoto nonsense hammered our steel or coal industries. A Michael Newdow-style blow against having God in our Pledge or crosses in our cemetaries would cause us to rise up, as well...as would any federal court ban on parental notification of children's abortion, et al.

But barring such ridiculous occurances, this state isn't going to get very riled up about Riley or Moore.

[Poohbah]

Do you believe that placing the monument in the courthouse was unconstitutional?

In the manner that Moore did it, he engaged in behavior that Moore would never sanction from me and thee if we were the subject of one of his court's rulings.

And Moore was told how to have his Ten Commandments in the courthouse without a single legal problem. He opted to do it his way because it was never about the greater glory of God--it was always about the greater glory of Roy Moore.

[deport]

Anyone......

Do you register to vote by Party in Alabama or do you choose which primary you want to vote in that primary season and it becomes you party of choice for that election cycle?

[Onelifetogive]

In other words, you want more Republicans to lose cases that they could win. That's exactly what Moore opted to do.

Winning a single case about one piece of rock wasn't important. The whole point was fighting a tyrannical federal judiciary. He lost the battle, but the war continues...

[proudofthesouth]

I truly dislike demorats. However if the choice comes down to either Moore or a demorat for govenor of Alabama, I will definitely vote for the demorat. I love this state but its citizens were stupid once before to vote in a "preacher" govenor (Guy Hunt) and I fear they will be stupid once again with Moore.

[deport]

Everywhere you look we're building homes and offices and opening new companies all around the state.

---

Don't tell willie....

See my post #15 and tell me how your party registration is conducted....... thanks

[Southack]

You can vote for either (but not both) Party in the primaries here. It does *not* matter how you are registered.