Folsom Not Running

According to Birmingham News reporter Dave White, Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom will not run for Governor in 2010, but instead will seek re-election to his current post, and that further narrows the Democratic field. Rep. Artur Davis is the only announced Democratic candidate, while Tim James is alone on the GOP side...though there are lots of others who are likely Republican candidates, like Postsecondary Chancellor Bradley Byrne. Troy University's Jack Hawkins dropped out of the GOP race earlier in the week. Democrat Ron Sparks has scheduled a series of news conferences for Friday to announce his decision, either Governor or Lt. Governor...which I think almost certainly means he's running for Governor. There's not nearly the campaign money (or power) in the Lieutenant Governor's office nowadays, so why spend all of the money and effort more than a year in advance to say you want to replace Folsom? We'll know for sure on Friday. [UPDATE: April 2, 2009 Brina Lyman in the Press-Register reports Democratic State Senator Roger Bedford is considering a run for Governor.]