Signs point to parties keeping seats in Congress PDF Print E-mail
birmingham.jpg
Thursday, June 05, 2008
MARY ORNDORFF
News Washington correspondent

WASHINGTON - There still is intrigue over whether Alabama's two open congressional seats will change party hands this fall, but Tuesday's primary results contain subtle signs that Democrats and Republicans in those areas could wind up in a draw and each just keep the seat they already have.
Turnout statewide was low - about 15 percent of eligible voters. Still, Republicans came out much stronger in the southeastern district they have dominated for decades, while Democrats won the turnout game in the northern seat they've held for more than a century. Each party has hopes of keeping one and gaining the other, but some longstanding traditions may be hard to break.

"Both races are still competitive and we'll be watching over the next few months at least as the campaign really engages," said Nathan Gonzales, political editor of the nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report.

In the 5th Congressional District of north Alabama, Democrats want to replace the retiring Rep. Bud Cramer with one of their own. Even though the Democratic primary was a low-key blowout and the Republican contest was competitive and higher-priced, more Democrats went to the polls.

Democrat Parker Griffith won his two-way primary with 90 percent of the 38,400 votes cast. On the GOP side, six candidates split 37,900 votes. Wayne Parker and Cheryl Baswell Guthrie will compete in a Republican runoff in July.

Republicans say the Southern trend toward the GOP at the federal level since Cramer's first election in 1992 bodes well for their chances.

"Regardless of who comes out of the runoff, the Republican nominee will be in a prime position to put the district in play after 138 years of being in Democratic/populist hands," an analysis by the National Republican Congressional Committee stated.

Griffith, whose television advertising probably sparked Democratic turnout even though his race was not close, is a state senator and has the endorsement of Cramer.

In the 2nd Congressional District, Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright easily dispatched two rivals with 70 percent of the 29,200 Democratic votes case. On the other side, six Republicans split about 56,700 votes, a testament to the intense advertising and self-financing that characterized the GOP contest. State Rep. Jay Love and state Sen. Harri Anne Smith will meet in a runoff in that district.

Republicans have held the seat for 43 years, the last 16 through Rep. Terry Everett of Rehobeth.

"It may be a tougher battle than what we thought just a few days ago for the Democrats," Gonzales said.

U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, D-Birmingham, dismissed the low Democratic turnout in the 2nd District, noting that Bright didn't advertise on television.

"A hot race gins up turnout," Davis said. "And in the 2nd, we had a hot race and no race. Most people didn't even know Bright had opposition."

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee was happy to see both GOP primaries extend to runoffs.

"It will be a problem for Republicans in both districts to have prolonged, six-week, expensive and nasty primary runoff battles," said Kyra Jennings, a DCCC spokeswoman in Washington.

There also are signs that the divide in the district between the northern Montgomery region and the Southeastern wiregrass persists. Bright's three lowest percentages Tuesday were in Henry, Houston and Pike counties; Love, who also represents Montgomery, had his three lowest percentages in Barbour, Conecuh and Houston counties. Smith, who represents the Dothan area, won only 7 percent in Montgomery County.

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 
[ Back ]

Newsletter Sign Up

Email Format

Photos

Paid for by Parker Griffith for Congress