I don't know what's going on in the State of Alabama, but ever since Ron Sparks was named as a potential challenger to Jeff Session, more sharks are circling Sessions as if they smell blood.
Republican U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions has more than $2 million in his campaign chest after a fundraiser with the vice president, but it's not keeping Democrats from considering a challenge.
State Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks and state Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile, say they are giving it a serious look. And retired Jefferson County District Judge Pete Johnson may be a possible candidate....
Democratic Party officials, jubilant after their gains in the 2006 election, expect a much more lively race in 2008. A new anti-Sessions Web site, http://www./... is early evidence of that.
For those of us not familiar with the Alabama political scene, the article gives us a profile of our potential candidates.
Sparks, who's serving his second term as agriculture commissioner and can't run again, said he's received lots of encouragement to seek the office and is giving it serious thought.
Sparks said a review of Sessions' voting record indicates there would be plenty for a Democrat to talk about, including Sessions' push for a repeal of the estate tax.
"Only 1 percent of Americans would have benefited; 99 percent would not have," Sparks said.
Figures, chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee and well known for her efforts to restrict smoking in public places, said she's receiving lots of encouragement to run and is praying about it.
"I'm continuing to be led by the Spirit on when the time is right to make a decision," she said.
Neither Figures nor Sparks would have to give up their current offices to run.
Johnson is mentioned by some leading Democrats as a possible candidate. Johnson said he's not ready to talk about the Senate seat now, but "I will be commenting within a month."
Most district judges are barely known outside their home counties, but Democratic leaders note that Johnson has friends -- and potential campaign supporters -- throughout the state because of his many years as a leader of the Boys State program.
A little more input input from Alabama kossacks would be much appreciated here as I do not know much about the state. First of all, I would lioke to know what kinds of gains we expereinced in 2006 there. Secondly, for all the talk about Sparks, could Johson, with his state connections, also be a viable candidate? Does anyone else smell blood in the waters of Alabama? This should be interesting.