Posted on 03/15/2008 2:28:03 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued
The announcement produced outpourings of praise for Cramer and then immediate scrambling by potential successors who have until April 4 to qualify for the June 3 Democratic and Republican primaries. The general election is Nov. 4.
State Sen. Parker Griffith, D-Huntsville, said he plans to visit with political and other leaders in Washington to gauge his chances of winning the seat.
The physician joins about a half-dozen others who either have been asked to run or are considering running, including Huntsville attorney Ray McKee, who has qualified as a Republican.
State Sen. Tom Butler, D-Madison, is being courted by Gov. Bob Riley to run as a Republican. Butler said he's meeting with his family this weekend but he didn't reveal which primary he'd run in if he does.
'Obviously I'm seriously considering it,' Butler said. 'I've looked at it a long, long time, since 2000.'
Others are Huntsville attorney Stan McDonald, a Republican; Public Service Commissioner Susan Parker of Rogersville, a Democrat; state Rep. Tammy Irons, D-Florence; state Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur; state Rep. John Robinson, D-Scottsboro; and Democrat Steve Raby of Madison County, the former chief of staff for Democratic U.S. Sen. Howell Heflin of Tuscumbia.
Republicans see this as their best shot at winning six of the seven congressional seats in Alabama. Cramer and U.S. Rep. Artur Davis of Birmingham are the two Democratic congressmen.
(Excerpt) Read more at tuscaloosanews.com ...
The name I’ve heard most is Mo Brooks, a Madison County Commissioner and longtime vote-getter who ran a crediblle race for Lieutenant Governor.
I wonder if those 2 districts in GA the Dems won very narrowly last time could switch. A few pick ups sure would help as it looks as if several more GOP seats will go Demo.
The only one we have a better shot at is GA-8. Black Mohammadan ex-Macon Mayor Jack Ellis may attempt to cripple Jim Marshall in the primary which might leave Air Force Gen. Rick Goddard with a decent shot in November, but it depends how badly Marshall does and the funding. If Ellis beats Marshall in an upset, we will win the seat in November.
I’m less hopeful about the 12th, where we only have 2nd tier candidates (though former Augusta Mayor Bob Young’s name has been floated).
“I prefer State Senators myself. Bulter or Orr would be good candidates.”
Normally, I would, too. However, Madison County is the biggest county in the district, and, if I’m not mistaken, Mo Brooks represents more constituants than do either state Senators. But you are right, Orr or Butler would be good candidates, although Orr lives outside the district.
I saw Brooks’s website, and it appears that he represents a particular county commission district, not the county as a whole. I doubt he would have as many constituents as a state rep, much less a state senator.
However, I’m sure Brooks is well known throughout the AL-05 due to his prior district-wide and statewide runs.
The GA-08 is extremely Republican after 2006 re-redistricting, and socially conservative Demicrat Marshall only barely won despite the huge RAT tailwind in 2006. I don’t think he can survive in a higher-turnout presidential year.
The GA-12, on the other hand, only barely voted for Bush in 2004, and will be harder to pick up, especially without a first-tier candidate. I wish a black Republican would make a run, since the CD is like 45% black.
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