In AL-02, we’ve got a GOP run-off election Tuesday to decide who will face Democrat Rep. Bobby Bright in November’s general election, which CQ Politics rates as a Tossup. Sorting through recent media, the gist seems to be that the choice is between a stateswoman and a renegade.
Martha Roby, long favored by the Republican establishment, got 48% of the vote in the four-candidate primary on June 1. Rick Barber managed to grab 28%, helping to force this run-off and surprising nearly everyone. (Admit it.)
Politico reported yesterday on the variance in fundraising between the candidates — Roby raised about $100,000 since the primary, Barber raised just less than half that — noting Roby’s favored status within the GOP and Barber’s ability to get national attention.
But consider the individual contributions listed in their pre-run-off FEC reports covering May 13 to June 23: $48,000 Barber, $67,000 Roby. A third of Roby’s contributions came from PACs. Also, Barber’s total contributions pre-primary stood at about $72,000. He added $48,000 since then. Roby’s total contributions were $440,000 pre-primary, and she added the $100,000 since.
I’ll leave numbers out for now and let the candidates speak for themselves. They are featured — in their own words — in the Montgomery Advertiser today. More after the jump.
Martha Roby sticks to the “Washington doesn’t get it” theme, writing that as she’s traveled the district, she’s heard time and time again how frustrated people are with a government that has grown “arrogant, bloated and unresponsive.” She lists four priorities she will take with her to Washington, and only mentions her competition by veiled allusion:
Alabamians are fed up and are rightfully demanding a representative who is accountable, accessible and, most of all, willing to listen to their concerns. It’s not good enough to just recognize the challenges this country faces. We need someone who can offer solutions.
In my two terms on the Montgomery City Council, I have consistently offered solutions to make our city a cleaner, safer and better place to live and do business. I want to bring that same common-sense, conservative approach with me to Washington.
Rick Barber focuses on the differences between his resume and that which is “normally elected to Congress.” He writes that those differences are an asset to the district, especially when putting a freshman in the House. He pledges to “…use my office to shame other congressman who have and continue to demonstrate a culture of pork barrel spending.”
It’s time that we showed Bobby Bright the door. On July 13, you have to choose which Republican you think can beat Bobby Bright.
I entered this race because I was concerned about my opponent’s ability to defeat Bobby Bright. Bobby Bright is a career politician. So is my opponent. Bobby Bright is a lawyer. So is my opponent. Bobby Bright doubled the size of government spending while mayor of Montgomery. My opponent voted for his budget and policies when she served under him on the city council.
Roby and Barber are also featured in this compare/ contrast article in the Dothan Eagle:
Although the two candidates agree they would both be more active in opposing President Barack Obama’s initiatives, the two differ on the best approach to accomplish the goal.
Roby, a Montgomery city councilwoman, has taken a forceful but stately approach in her campaign, vowing to not only cast the right votes, but work with other Republicans to help overturn legislation.
Barber, a military veteran and small business owner, has taken a more nuclear approach, saying he plans to throw political correctness on its ear and lob verbal bombs if necessary to make his point known.
I think the adjectives “forceful but stately” for Roby and “nuclear” for Barber kind of sum it up.
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