In the Attorney General's race, Coastal Alabama Republicans seem to be lining up behind the campaign of Luther Strange if the fundraiser here last week is any indication.  Strange, who ran a tough race against Lt. Governor Jim Folsom in 2006 is opposing incumbent AG Troy King in the Republican Primary. Unless King is forced out early, it will be as heated a primary competition as the Republicans have seen in quite a while.

With fall college football, hunting season and Mardi Gras, not counting Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, still to go before the 2010 elections get in full swing, it is no surprise that candidates are trying to get a fundraising leg up now in the relatively quiet month of September.

Fundraising wise, it looks like leading Republicans are lining up a slate headed by Bradley Byrne for governor, Strange for attorney general, John McMillan for commissioner of agriculture.  With all legislative seats up for re-election in 2010 look for spirited party opposition for nearly every seat in the state House and Senate. And although Gov. Bob Riley will not be eligible for re-election he has raised 16 tons of money for Republicans.

Usually the closer to home the election the more interest. Not this year.  There was little opposition to incumbent City of Mobile officials and you had to drag people to the polls to vote in the first round in those districts that actually had elections.  Come 2010 we can expect much more interest and heat than that.

From Street Talk by Jo Ann Flirt, September 23, 2009