Alabama Governor: Republicans Slightly Ahead in Wide Open Contest

Rasmussen Reports ^ | April 1, 2010

[Clintonfatigued]

With both parties' primaries just two months away, Alabama's gubernatorial race is wide open.

The first Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 survey of likely voters in the state finds former State Senator Bradley Byrne, a Republican, as the only candidate to capture 50% of the vote, and that's in a match-up with Democratic Congressman Artur Davis who earns 33% support.

Byrne leads the other Democrat in the race, State Agricultural Commissioner Ron Sparks, by a 43% to 33% margin. Sparks and Davis are battling for the Democratic nomination.

Davis, who is seeking to be the first African-American governor of the state, trails two other Republicans vying for their party's nomination. Businessman Tim James, son of former Governor Fob James, leads the congressman 49% to 35%. State Treasurer Kay Ivey posts a 43% to 36% lead over Davis.

Davis runs best against former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, edging him 44% to 40%.

Moore is also the only GOP hopeful who trails Sparks - by five points - 40% to 35%.

Ivey holds a 39% to 33% lead over Sparks. James runs a similar lead over the Democrat, 38% to 34%.

In nearly every race, those who prefer another candidate are in single digits, while undecideds range from six (6%) to 14%.

[AzaleaCity5691]

Davis would beat Moore because Republicans in the metro areas would defect in huge numbers for Davis. Moore really hurts our ability to get a straight ticket vote.

[Impy]

The Judge better not be nominated then.

[AzaleaCity5691]

There is a converse to that. Now Moore would get his clock cleaned by Sparks as Sparks would hold the rural white trash vote and pick up Republicans in the city. Think something like Siegelman’s win in 1998.

However, it is true that many of those white trash rural people will defect if the nominee is Davis. The question is, with Moore, is it enough to offset the metro losses. I question if it is but it might not bet.