Posted by
PolitaChick on Monday, September 25, 2006 3:58:39 PM
On Thursday, President Bush will be heading down to Alabama to do an event for Governor Bob Riley’s reelection effort. Governor Riley is pretty far ahead in the polls. Therefore, as a campaigner, I wouldn’t think it was the best use of President Bush’s time to run down to Alabama.
A few things: As someone who worked to get President Bush reelected there have been some difficult storms I’ve had to weather since ’04—particularly, as a conservative Republican. Needless to say, it’s been a tough two years. But the President’s approval ratings have crept up a bit in the past few weeks so things are looking up.
But I worked on a race in Virginia last year, when Bush tried to come in the day before the election and save the doomed gubernatorial campaign. That campaign made too many strategic mistakes that is was far past the point of no return.
But now Bush is campaigning in Alabama. Alabama is Bush Country. It’s still a bright red state and Riley is ahead in by like 10 points. Republican has done a beautiful job securing the crimson color of Alabama and sealed the deal when they took the Democrats out at the knees. How?
By connecting the Democrats golden child to Alabama’s biggest villain, Republicans where able to dismantle the Democratic Party. Former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman is a fundraising machine! It was calculated that on average the man could raise about $500,000 an hour! And he was going to make another run for governor. Richard Scrushy after being acquitted of charges regarding the $2.7 billion fraud that went on at HealthSouth is considered next to Satan by most Alabamians.
With no evidence, no testimony nor any proof, the US Attorneys were able to falsely convict Richard Scrushy, founding CEO of HealthSouth and former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman of bribery. (More on that is a later post)
Really it’s beautiful political strategy. Now no one will give Siegelman a dime without fear of being prosecuted and his name is mud.
So the Democrats have no money and no decent potential candidates so Lucy Baxley get to fight the losing battle to head the state of Alabama.
So why is Bush wasting his time in Alabama? Aren’t there several other races and states that are still Bush Country enough that Bush’s presence would be better utilized? And perhaps his time put to better use?
Bush cannot just sit at home. The image of the President not campaign when send a message that he with will not work to help save his party or that if he does try to help he will do more harm than good. Perhps in key races and battleground states - Bush's presents could destroy any possiblity that the seat could be won by a republican. Maybe Bush isn't our last best hope - but only for the hopeless races, democrat or republican. Could that be it?