Interesting quote in a Huntsville Times story by Challen Stephens today about the GOP win in House District 6 this week. It points to the much bigger war chest of winner Phil Williams had over Democrat Jenny Askins. And he says there was what I'll call The Alpha Dog problem:
"The biggest problem for the Democrats is the candidates allow themselves to become punching bags," said Dr. Jess Brown at Athens State University. "The Republicans set the agenda, and the Democrats just respond to it."
Is that it, really? Spend more money and don't let 'em beat up on you.
Stephens also point out that turnout was, well, tiny: "only 4,229 people went to the polls in a district of 31,240 registered voters. That's a participation rate of just 13.5 percent, up slightly over the special primary."
The GOP is making this out to be the canary in the coal mine for Democrats, predicting a takeover of the House in Montgomery next year.
Like your "Alpha dog" analogy, Tim!
ReplyDeleteMost folks don't know it - hell, most folks don't train their dogs! Why would we or anyone expect them to do anything but throw out some food and water to their "pets"? Not training a dog is irresponsible ownership, in my opinion. - but there ARE Alpha bitches!
Studies in canine behavior - that would be "pack" behavior - indicate that the "Alpha" male selects an "Alpha" female, and she does NOT let any - sire or dam - in the pack forget it! Naturally, she mates only with the "Alpha" male, and he reciprocates as her solitary mate.
I had one, she's now deceased, however. And I truly liked that aspect of her personality. STRONG!
Nothin' worse than a cowardly dog... 'cept, maybe, a cowardly lion.
I am convinced that it wasn't money that was the Democratic candidate's downfall. It was that she wasn't a strong candidate. And that, in my estimation, speaks more to the local party's Executive Committee than anything else. Why aren't they cultivating strong candidates at the grass roots level?
Dr. Parker Griffith, M.D.'s win over Wayne Parker - the big-business bank-backed perennial Republican candidate for Alabama's 5th District - was in large part because of Griffith's own strength as a candidate. And Dr. Griffith faced some tough competition - especially in Huntsville & Madison county - from Wayne Parker.
Wayne Parker, not expecting any competition, and whom previously challenged incumbent Bud Cramer (a widower, former Madison county DA, and founder of the National Children's Advocacy Center and movement) during the height of Newt Gingrich's Speaker of the House, I-hate-government-Democrats-and-anyone-that-disagrees-with-me, Contract on America, governmental deconstructionism, Free-Willy era, thought that he would be a shoo-in and would roll over into office.
He was quite wrong.
I'm certain Wayne Parker will again challenge Dr. Griffith.
Dr. Griffith, by the way, is a retired oncologist, whom brought cancer care & treatment to north Alabama. Since his retirement from medical practice, he has also enjoyed successful entrepreneurial endeavors and business ownership in his own right.