Local congressional race gets national attention

Both Democrats and Republicans on a national level are pumping attention and money into the 2nd Congressional District Race in Alabama.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has assisted Bobby Bright’s campaign against Jay Love with several hundred thousand dollars in advertising money, and a committee spokesperson said the committee has targeted the race as a potential pickup for the Democrats.

Meanwhile, the National Republican Congressional Committee has already responded by sending its chairman to Montgomery. Chairman Tom Cole has promised the committee will help Love any way it can.

“We intend to be involved, contribute ... be heavily engaged here,” Cole said. “We think Jay Love is a good candidate in a good district.”

Since Terry Everett defeated Larry Dixon to win the seat in 1992, the 16-county district has heavily supported the Republican candidate. Cole said he doesn’t expect anything different this year.

“We recognize the (Democrats) are coming to play with national resources. If we have a clear debate on the issues and the consequences of sending Bobby Bright to Congress, I think we will win because the district is a good district and tends to vote Republican, especially in Presidential years,” Cole said.

However, Bright says the district tends to vote conservative, not necessarily Republican. And the dynamics of this race are entirely different, according to the DCCC.

Bright, the mayor of Montgomery, has name recognition. His campaign commercials stress a conservative stance on economic and social issues. He has been endorsed by the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of 47 fiscally conservative Democrat Congressmen. Included in the group is Alabama Congressman Bud Cramer of Huntsville.

“Bobby Bright is a proven leader, has a history of providing jobs, and has middle class Alabama values,” said Kyra Jennings, spokesperson for the DCCC.

Cole said he believes 2nd district voters will have a difficult time electing a Democrat Congressman.

“We have a lot of Democrats in this part of the world running away from their party,” Cole said. “And the first thing they are going to do is vote for the most liberal speaker of the house in history in Nancy Pelosi. You can’t be a conservative and vote for Nancy Pelosi as speaker. The contrast is striking.”