The 5th was long overdue to go GOP at the Congressional level, it really should’ve flipped in 1994. It was solely because we ran the retread from ‘94 that we lost in ‘08. I don’t expect the Dems to reclaim this seat, and the trickle-down realignment in the district is coming as well. The Dems know it’s happening and there’s little they can do to stop the state from flipping to GOP control. Once that occurs, the county offices, which you’re always talking about, will follow.
Morris Brooks won the primary outright:
http://www.politico.com/2010/maps/
Martha Roby is just barely short of avoiding a runoff.
http://www.politico.com/2010/maps/
Over confidence. All the political experts in the state were saying how Sparks didn’t have a shot, how he shot himself in the foot, etc.
I knew based on the rules of Alabama politics that Sparks would likely win and win big and the states black leadership would be the ones who did Davis in. That’s exactly what happened.
Tonight’s big winner in Alabama was the political establishment and the states big interest groups. The tea party exists in Alabama but other than maybe Brooks victory its not clear that they pulled off anything in this state.
Tonights biggest winner was Paul Hubbert. Two of the three leading candidates for governor were those that Hubbert and co were clandestinely backing in an attempt to stop Bradley Byrne. If it turns out to be a James/Bentley runoff then no matter who the next governor of Alabama is Paul Hubbert will still be the true source of power in Alabama come 2011.
I don’t doubt that our dominance of all facets of political life in the state is just around the corner. Still doesn’t mean we’re going to get it handed to us. We’re going to have to fight and claw for it (and whoever had the bright idea of running Kay Ivey should really be slapped, because we now have a Lt. Governor candidate that no one else on the ticket needs to be making appearances with)