3.22.2006
In Race to Lead Alabama, It's Politics as Unusual (NYTimes.com)
By RICK LYMAN
Published: March 22, 2006
ARLEY, Ala., March 18 — Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley, surrounded by a knot of supporters wearing "We Love Lucy" stickers, was the first to arrive at the 47th annual Arley chitlin supper on Friday, shaking hands in the blustery cold outside the Meek Elementary School gymnasium.
One indication of the wild nature of the Alabama governor's race, just now getting under way in earnest, is that Ms. Baxley — bubbly, 68, with a folksy manner and a perfect helmet of brunette hair — is, by a substantial margin, the least colorful major candidate in the contest.
"Only in Alabama, I guess, would you have a combination of folks like we have this year," Ms. Baxley said.
Former Gov. Donald Siegelman, Ms. Baxley's leading opponent in the Democratic primary, arrived next, pushing through the crowded gymnasium behind a broad smile. Mr. Siegelman is under federal indictment on racketeering and conspiracy charges, something he never fails to mention, calling it a political vendetta by a Republican prosecutor and making it sound like a lucky break to be going to trial just weeks before the June 6 primary.
"I'm not the slightest bit concerned," Mr. Siegelman said. "We'll blow the doors off the barn with a high-profile acquittal. I'll take a week off with my family and then come back, campaign for a week, and win."
The current governor, Bob Riley, a Republican, just shrugged. "What else is he going to say?" he asked.
The next candidate to arrive was Mr. Riley's chief primary opponent, Roy Moore, a former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court who became a hero to conservative Christians and drew national attention with his campaign to put a Ten Commandments monument in his courthouse, a drive that led to his being removed from office in 2003.
Now, Mr. Moore specializes in reminding crowds about a hugely unpopular $1.2 billion tax increase proposed in 2003 by Mr. Riley. "I am telling you, this race is about credibility," Mr. Moore said. "This race is about accountability."
(More ... In Race to Lead Alabama, It's Politics as Unusual - New York Times) ¶ 22:22
Published: March 22, 2006
ARLEY, Ala., March 18 — Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley, surrounded by a knot of supporters wearing "We Love Lucy" stickers, was the first to arrive at the 47th annual Arley chitlin supper on Friday, shaking hands in the blustery cold outside the Meek Elementary School gymnasium.
One indication of the wild nature of the Alabama governor's race, just now getting under way in earnest, is that Ms. Baxley — bubbly, 68, with a folksy manner and a perfect helmet of brunette hair — is, by a substantial margin, the least colorful major candidate in the contest.
"Only in Alabama, I guess, would you have a combination of folks like we have this year," Ms. Baxley said.
Former Gov. Donald Siegelman, Ms. Baxley's leading opponent in the Democratic primary, arrived next, pushing through the crowded gymnasium behind a broad smile. Mr. Siegelman is under federal indictment on racketeering and conspiracy charges, something he never fails to mention, calling it a political vendetta by a Republican prosecutor and making it sound like a lucky break to be going to trial just weeks before the June 6 primary.
"I'm not the slightest bit concerned," Mr. Siegelman said. "We'll blow the doors off the barn with a high-profile acquittal. I'll take a week off with my family and then come back, campaign for a week, and win."
The current governor, Bob Riley, a Republican, just shrugged. "What else is he going to say?" he asked.
The next candidate to arrive was Mr. Riley's chief primary opponent, Roy Moore, a former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court who became a hero to conservative Christians and drew national attention with his campaign to put a Ten Commandments monument in his courthouse, a drive that led to his being removed from office in 2003.
Now, Mr. Moore specializes in reminding crowds about a hugely unpopular $1.2 billion tax increase proposed in 2003 by Mr. Riley. "I am telling you, this race is about credibility," Mr. Moore said. "This race is about accountability."
(More ... In Race to Lead Alabama, It's Politics as Unusual - New York Times) ¶ 22:22
