Posted on 06/04/2006 2:18:20 PM PDT by AzaleaCity5691
Down to the wire: Candidates make final push Sunday, June 04, 2006 By BILL BARROW Capital Bureau MONTGOMERY -- The four leading candidates for Alabama governor are all on the road this weekend, scrambling to make last-minute pitches for votes in Tuesday's party primaries that most forecasters say will come down to a simple function of turnout.
It's an axiom political strategists use often, because it's true to the point of being elementary: The candidate who gets the best effort and the most votes out of his or her core supporters usually wins. Yet with two contested primaries this year, there are enough wild cards present to make the usual rules anything but fail-safe in predicting just who'll be left standing for the Nov. 7 general election.
In the Republican primary, Gov. Bob Riley is trying to withstand a challenge from Ten Commandments Judge Roy Moore.
Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley and former Gov. Don Siegelman, meanwhile, are trying to win the Democratic primary without a runoff, but their ballot includes five other challengers: Joe Copeland of Cullman, Harry Lyon of Pelham, Katherine Mack of Pittsview, Nathan Mathis of Newton and James Potts of Wilton.
There are contested primaries for several lower offices, as well, including bitter GOP matchups for chief justice and lieutenant governor and Democratic tilts for treasurer and secretary of state. Both parties have battles for statewide court seats, attorney general, state auditor and a Public Service Commission post.
(Excerpt) Read more at al.com ...
The only guess it seems whether or not Lucy will win it without a runoff.
Oh there will be a runoff, no doubt about it. Mathis is going to get some votes, after all, he represented a rural district in the legislature, and my guess is, those people are loyal to him. Never mind all the other nuts on the ballot. I actually think the outcome of the state races are preordained at this point. Roy Moore's political sun is not as bright today as it was in 2004, and even then, his slate did badly. To be honest, I'm more interested in local races. Namely, who is going to pick which primary for Sheriff, and I know both of those are going to a runoff. Though personally, I think that if the Democrats have a runoff for governor, Siegelman is going to win it, because, despite my personal convictions about the case, I think he's going to be aquitted like Scrushy was.
I do honestly think we could take the legislature this year, if we have the right people heading the ticket.
Riley had a nearly 50 point lead over Moore in a poll from May 22.
I see now from your tagline you knew that already. :)
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