Love ponders rematch in '10

The 2010 election could bring a rematch between Republican Jay Love and incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Bobby Bright.

Love, a state representative who narrowly lost his bid for the 2nd Congressional District last year, said he is considering another run in 2010. The Montgomery Republican said he has not made any decisions.

“I have gotten many phone calls and a lot of encouragement from people in the 2nd Congressional District to run for Congress again,” Love said Tuesday. “In fact, a day doesn’t go by that somebody doesn’t encourage me to run again.”

Love lost by fewer than 1,800 votes to Bright, the former Montgomery mayor.

Bright said in a statement that he plans to run again in 2010. He said he has made it his “highest priority to be open and accessible to my constituents and to provide excellent constituent services to the district.”

“There will be a time and place for politics, and when that time comes I welcome a debate on the issues with any challengers,” Bright said in the statement. “For now, however, I am focused on addressing the district’s needs and working across party lines to find ways to get our country moving in the right direction.”

Republicans are expected to fight hard and spend heavily to regain the 2nd District seat, which they had held for more than 40 straight years.

“Obviously, given the significance and given the background of the district, it is one we will certainly be targeting, one we’re certainly looking at, and we will do our best to hold Bobby Bright accountable to campaign promises and his record in Congress,” said Paul Lindsay, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Lindsay and Philip Bryan, communications director for the Alabama Republican Party, said they will fight in 2010 to win the seat back.

“Jay certainly ran a great race and has a strong record and came within just a hair of winning with Obama on the ballot, and I think 2010 will be a whole different scenario so I think he has a good shot,” Bryan said.

He also acknowledged other candidates are interested given the Republican history of the district.

“No matter the candidates it will certainly be a seat we feel strong about taking back with different circumstances in 2010,” Bryan said.

When Love campaigned for Congress last year, he did not have to decide between running for that seat or running again for his legislative seat. In 2010, both offices will be on the ballot and he would have to decide.

Love said he would take into account family considerations and his legislative seat. The lawmaker and his supporters have also said that, with Barack Obama at the top of the ticket, Love was hurt by the thousands of straight-party Democratic voters in Montgomery County.

“It was a tough hill to climb,” Love said. “Really, that is what turned the race. I almost won, but I didn’t. Every vote counts so that is something that potentially wouldn’t be there next go-around.”

Lindsay said, “Jay Love is an excellent candidate who ran a close race despite a challenging political environment. Bobby Bright will not have the same advantage of circumstances in 2010, but he will have a partisan, Democratic agenda to defend.”

During the election, some Republicans said Bright, after receiving campaign contributions from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and other top Democrats would bend to the wishes of the Democratic leadership.

But several national publications have already noted that Bright has voted against the majority on almost every major issue including the stimulus package, the children’s health insurance program and an act dealing with fair pay.

He did vote for Pelosi as speaker, which was criticized by Republicans…

…Love said he could start raising money now if he was in the race, but will likely make a decision by early next year.

Finley said even though a Democrat won in 2008, the district remains “pretty conservative.”

He said the election was very close and that “Obama did give Mayor Bright a push enough to get him over the top.

“That will not be the case in 2010.”

Finley said the election also could hinge on whether Obama’s programs appear to be working, which he would expect to favor Bright “in spite of him not supporting the president’s stimulus package. He will be able to boast of some success.”

If those programs are not working, the professor said, that would create more ammunition for the Republicans.

Finley said the seat will be tough for Bright to hold on to, but said he has a slight edge as the incumbent.

“I would certainly think that among Democratic congressmen in 2010, I think Congressman Bright will be on that vulnerable list of Democrats that Republicans will target,” he said.

Love is not the only potential Republican candidate for the congressional seat. Other mentioned potential candidates include 2008 candidate Craig Schmidtke; Montgomery Fox executive and 2008 candidate David Woods; state Reps. David Grimes, Greg Wren, and Steve Clouse; businesswoman Patricia Barnes; 2008 candidate John Martin; and former state Treasurer George Wallace Jr.

People have also mentioned Attorney General Troy King, but he announced last week that he would seek another term in that post in 2010.
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