“Rumors and Rumblings” is a new weekly feature that we will run each Wednesday. It will include short nuggets of information that we glean from conversations throughout the week. Enjoy.
1. The seeds of discontent with the GOP state party Chairman have been sown among the GOP congressional delegation. Some in the delegation feel the Chairman violated his obligation to neutrality by not-too-subtly involving himself in their primaries in favor of their challengers. The GOP delegation all became members of the Governor’s Circle during the 2010 election cycle — meaning they each donate $10,000 per year to the party. It will be interesting to see how much financial support the Chair receives moving forward from this traditionally very generous group.
2. Several GOP polls over the past few months have shown Governor Bentley continuing to be popular among both general election and primary voters. He hovers around 60% favorability among all voters in almost every poll and over 75% favorability among Republicans and Independents.
3. Immediately after the Chief Justice primary there was an intense effort in Democrat Party circles to recruit Sue Bell Cobb to run as a substitute candidate. Democrats were hoping to place at least one viable candidate on the statewide ballot this year but it looks like that’s not going to happen. The Cobb effort has fizzled out.
4. A member of the legislature will likely be vacating his seat in the near future to take a role in the Bentley administration.
5. While Rep. Craig Ford is still the Democrat insiders’ choice for Governor in 2014, we’ve heard his advisors told him after his “Too Hot for YouTube” videos hit the web that he has to be more careful and disciplined if he hopes to have a shot at the nomination.
Sounds like some people who are jelous of Rev. Killian and Bill Armistead to me! Are you all former Riley people who want to take down the newcomers haha
Shooter and “chairman”
If you are Republican, let’s join together for a big win in November. We need unity and sowing rumors against a fine Chairman is no way to help us win races in November.
We should win our state and federal races in Alabama. We need to have Republicans elected at the local level. Lord knows, we are having to treat water here in Jefferson County–but we have a quality slate of local candidates.
We won’t win with having to defend our rear flank.
The reverend doth protest too much, methinks.
Your argument lost all remaining credibility when you said “Bill Armistead has raised money.” Come on Rev. I won’t give any money to the party anymore because no one there can show me a half decent plan.
As far as PR, I think Shana Kluck does a good job but she’s not the one driving the ship. Armistead is. And the ship has no direction. These “rumors” (which I think are factual but Yellowhammer is protecting sources) are light compared to what I’ve heard regarding frustrations with the state party.
But how about this. Let’s see if the delegation pulls their money from this point forward. If they do I think that’s something to take into consideration when we consider this chairman’s tenure.
Any comments made were in confidence. I saw NO favoritism from Chairman Armistead on any races.
Shooter, I hope my praying is not a “get to” matter.
Bill Armistead has raised money, made contacts for the party, and kept interest going. The party is NOT silent, but is making great strides in PR.
Bill Armistead is including everybody–that is, everybody who wants to be involved. And NO, he did not touch these Congressional races. However, he will be supporting the GOP nominees in all of our Congressional races
John, There have been many rumors about Chairman Armistade, but all we hear is how silent the ALGOP is. Maybe that is the strategy. Zince they won so much before him. Guess it is easy to be a Chairman now. Just wish the ALGOP would be vocal in tings that the Chairman should care about,he seems weak at teh knees
Please allow me to answer #1. This rumor is a load of crap.
Bill Armistead is a close friend of mine and I have no idea how he voted in the Congressional race. In fact, the Party headquarters, under leadership of Chairman Armistead, was reported (by Penny Bailey–who is the Dem candidate and considered running GOP) that the state party supported the incumbent.
Chairman Armistead and I talked about the primaries and the ONE race where he didn’t express a favorite was the Congressional race. I can guar-an-tee that he did NOTHING to use the party apparatus in favor of any candidate.
This is just a rumor spread by someone who wants Bill off the scene for other reasons.
Rev. Killian,
everyone on the executive committee knows you just like Bill because you get access and get to pray on stage at presidential forums and things like that. Anyone with an objective point of view who has been around a while and has seen how bad the party is being run is not surprised in the least by a falling out with our members of congress.
Plus there’s no way you can say with a straight face that everyone didn’t know who Bill was supporting in Spencer’s race and probably in Bonner’s race too. And it was not the incumbents.
But what’s funnier to me is that you admit “Chairman Armistead and I talked about the primaries and the ONE race where he didn’t express a favorite was the Congressional race.” Ok. So he DID express favorites in other primaries? Isn’t that exactly the point? He’s not supposed to show favoritism in primaries.
I personally think Bill is a nice enough guy but I’m just not sure he’s carried himself with distinction as our Chairman.