Ron Sparks in His Own Words: Artur Davis Comes Out Swinging in Press Release Today

How crowded will this field get? (4.00 / 2)

Danny at the Political Parlor is reporting that Roger Bedford may jump in too!

I'm not short.  I'm fun size!!

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by: countrycat @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 12:51:52 PM CDT

Bedford (4.00 / 1)

Bad news for Sparks, I would think.  And Danny's latest post has a lot of speculation about Jim Folsom, Jr.'s hand in all this, which is not clear at all.  Have Folsom and Sparks had a falling out or has there been a miscommunication somewhere?

Work harder and work smarter!

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by: mooncat @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 14:15:52 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

YIPPEE!!! (4.00 / 2)

This will pull lots of excitement into the primary and later into the general.  I love a good fairly-fought race! Not only does it make them better candidates, it makes me a more informed advocate and voter.

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by: melmel @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 12:58:56 PM CDT

coincidence? (4.00 / 2)

Davis announced on a Friday.

Sparks is announcing on a Friday.

Davis announced on the steps of the Archives Bldg.

Sparks is announcning on the steps of the Archives Bldg.

Davis announced at the Harbert Center.

Sparks is announcing at the Harbert Center.

seems like Sparks is taking a page from Davis' play book....

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by: claire @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 13:49:25 PM CDT

Lots of similarities there (0.00 / 0)

I thought the objective was usually to get ahead of the other guy, not follow in his footsteps.

Work harder and work smarter!

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by: mooncat @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 14:13:49 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

reality (4.00 / 1)

There aren't a lot of really good venues in the Capitol/State House complex where you can stage that kind of event without creating a problem for foot traffic.  And if you want to call Spark's venue choices "copying," fine. Just be sure to call Davis's use of the Archives "copying" earlier candidates who also used it.  And at the Archives, you don't have to pay the rental fee for the RSA. The faux-Greek revival backdrop looks very gubernatorial, too.

As to the Harbert center, no copying there.  It's where the Downtown Democrats meet on Fridays, and that's becoming a traditional stop for announcement flyarounds.

Friday itself is not an uncommon day for announcements - there is regular evening TV news to be seen on, but the day doesn't disrupt the work week. And in Davis's case, it fits the legislative schedule.

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by: PubliusIX @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 17:25:38 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

that press release was amateur hour though (4.00 / 1)

Sparks has not even announced yet Secondly most of those comments were regarding the 2008 cycle.

I do think there is a difference in a primary with Vivian Figures and Artur Davis. While Vivian was not as viable, she is a state legislator and it would have been a lot harder for a lot of her counterparts to not support her from that persepctive.

Davis on the other hand has essentially said time and time again that he does not need the Democratic Party to win. He's got his own folks outside of the traditonal Dem Party structure.

This is going to be very interesting, but I don't think that these statements are playing well.

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by: gradyw @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 14:20:14 PM CDT

I wondered a bit too about jumping the gun a bit (4.00 / 2)

and hitting this hard right now.

Have to wonder, too, given the Roger Bedford news.... will Sparks still announce for governor tomorrow?

This just gets more interesting every hour.  I love it!

I'm not short.  I'm fun size!!

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by: countrycat @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 14:27:36 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

thoughts on Bedford (4.00 / 2)

Bedford is a prolific fundraiser. Perhaps the best in the State outside of The Don.

I don't see Bedford and Sparks both getting in the Gov's race.

Tomorrow will be fun.

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by: gradyw @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 14:30:48 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Will you be in Bham tomorrow? (4.00 / 2)

Mooncat and I are going to hear Sparks at the Downtown Dems.

I'm not short.  I'm fun size!!

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by: countrycat @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 14:44:04 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

i haven't decided (4.00 / 2)

but now it looks like Bedford is really in also

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by: gradyw @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 15:05:49 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I don't see anything wrong with it (4.00 / 1)

Davis has some busy researchers and Sparks has given them a lot of material in the last couple of years.  And the basic point is "Why does Ron Sparks want to run for governor?" if indeed that's what he's running for.  Sparks has an opportunity answer that question tomorrow, or not. 

He also has to live with the statements he made in 2007 about the importance of party unity.  That whole episode rubbed me the wrong way and really undermines his image as a regular guy doing what he believes in -- there's nothing in the world wrong with a tough, issues based primary fight, not now and not then.  I understand he was looking for a graceful way out of the Senate race at the time, but that piece of work was not well done.

Work harder and work smarter!

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by: mooncat @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 14:45:12 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

well based on what folks in the Gump are saying (4.00 / 2)

it looks like Bedford is in regardless of what Sparks says tomorrow.

 

 

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by: gradyw @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 15:08:52 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

That would be a mistake (4.00 / 2)

Bedford and Sparks take from the same vote, plus, of all the people who are weak on an ethical attack standpoint, Bedford has to be at the top of that list. Bedford has also lost a statewide race before and it was considered an upset too.

If Bedford actually jumps in, that might be enough to draw someone else in. In particular, if Mike Dow enters the race, Davis's goose will be cooked, because Dow will basically be able to outraise anyone in the race and because Dow's entry will ensure that the black votes in Mobile as well as in the counties surrounding Mobile will simply be off of the table.

 Dow won't enter the thing I don't think unless he feels it's divided enough where he can pull it off. If it does look that divided I think he might because he can easily raise 8 figure amounts for a campaign and he has many things that would make him ideal for an Alabama state campaign, with his only drawbacks being his stature and the fact that he is a Mobile based candidate 

 

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by: jacool @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 17:07:19 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I agree that the Senate race was handled very badly. (4.00 / 1)

VERY clumsy and VERY disappointing.

Yep.  Ron has some 'splaining to do before I regain my former enthusiasm about him.

But I did wince a bit reading Davis' press release.  Seems like it would also have been ok to wait a couple of days.  BUT I do realize that getting those quotes and questions out there now gives political reporters some fodder for tomorrow's press conferences.

Pretty deft stroke.

I'm not short.  I'm fun size!!

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by: countrycat @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 15:22:35 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

The question is "why does Davis not want Ron Sparks running for governor?" (4.00 / 1)

Why else go negative this early.  It doesn't suggest confidence or message control or rapid response to me.  It suggests fear.  If this press release is an example of the kind of campaign Artur Davis is going to run, I am very disappointed.

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by: bluebearcat @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 15:57:59 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

And who are these people is what I wonder (0.00 / 0)

If he thinks he'll even begin to approach Obama's percentages of the black vote he's dreaming. A presidential primary that has no bearing on state and local politics is a different animal from a gubernatorial primary that could have a direct bearing on who controls the legislature for the next 30 years.

 The January 30/February 5 Primary last year had no bearing on anything but the presidential nomination and so the voting patterns from it fall into a meaningless category in so far as state politics go.

 The question of whether Davis will even carry the black vote will rest on what the black leadership of the state does. My hunch is, he's made too many enemies of them for them to pass up a chance to not only have him suffer a humiliating defeat but get him out of Congress. That's why I'm saying he's making a tactical mistake in even running. If he waited another decade, most of his enemies in the black political establishment would be retired but right now they still run the show.

 But Davis is obviously scared. If he wasn't, there wouldn't be this response. I am just eagerly anticipating the free Alabama concerts that will be popping up across the state. When we talk about Sparks, we have to remember, the Alabama band combined has to be worth near a billion, and given that 3 out of four of them are childhood friends of Sparks, would it be much for them to basically help make sure Sparks can match any money Davis has?

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by: jacool @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 17:16:08 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

You've got good points and analysis (4.00 / 1)

please turn them into a good diary for us to discuss!

But enough with the Alabama band stuff.  Who cares who they support?

Is that really a big issue in this state?  If so, we've got bigger problems than I ever imagined.

I'm not short.  I'm fun size!!

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by: countrycat @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 21:33:31 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

This reeks. (4.00 / 1)

I am talking about Bedford. Apparently, everyone was waiting on Big Jim to let them know what to run for. Bedford is not what we need. Davis' comments are disappointing. Davis wants to be Obamaesque, but doesn't quite have it. I wish Sparks had not waffled so much earlier. What a mess.

I do not agree that primaries are great for the party. It costs too much to raise money for a primary and then run in the general election. I agree it was different with Hilary and Obama, but these folks are not in the same caliber of fund raising. 

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by: Sundog @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 16:20:29 PM CDT

Tactical Error by Davis (0.00 / 0)

The right move for Davis to have made would have been a conciliatory statement welcoming Sparks to the race and hoping that the two of them could have a positive and constructive race about the future of Alabama. By going on the offensive against Sparks and by using the whole "dividing the party" line, Davis has just committed a terrible error. Whether it is his intention or not, the sentiment that he has just communicated is that anyone who runs against him is dividing the party and the logical extension of that being it's his rightful nomination.

 It was a terrible gaffe and I expect them to try and pull back on it. If I were Sparks, I wouldn't even address those comments. Davis has made enough statements of his own that have basically made him not the favorite of the Montgomery leadership that Sparks doesn't need to say anything.

 However, any response that Sparks makes will probably capitalize on this error that Davis has made by making the assumption that running against him is bad for the party and therefore by extension, letting him have it unopposed is "best" for the party.

 It'll be interesting to see how long it is before the Davis people realize how much of a mistake it was, might happen when they reach this.

 However, the exact wrong statement for a candidate with a Harvard degree to make when his opponent is an alumni of Northeast Alabama Community College.

 The real interesting thing in the race will be see what the Hilliards do.

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by: jacool @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 17:01:21 PM CDT

What Artur doesn't want us to know ... (4.00 / 1)

Anyone who believes a politician demurs on entry into a race, or withdraws from one, or resigns midterm, "to spend more time with my family," is bound to be perpetually disappointed.  That said, we generally don't condemn them merely for offering a reason no one believes.

The truth is, Sparks wasn't bothered by running against Figures, or even by the prospect of dividing the Party.  He was, quite reasonably, bothered by the prospect of running against Jeff Sessions's $5.5 million+ dollar campaign war chest, with the reasonable certainty that the DSCC would look askance at Alabama as "unwinnable," and offer no help.  Given that reality, the public rationale offered by Sparks was a gracious way to bow out, without making a statement that, if honest, would have harmed the Figures campaign by making it appear Quixotic.

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by: PubliusIX @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 17:04:44 PM CDT

I still think he harmed Figures' campaign (4.00 / 1)

He effectively shifted the blame to her for pushing him out of the race.  Also, there was a lot of gnashing of teeth from Sparks' supporters about how long it was taking for Figures to make a decision, that she was praying over it, etc.  None of that was helpful to Vivian Figures.  Would have been better for Sparks to simply say he didn't think the time was right for him to run.  Leave the fellow Democrat's name out of it.

Work harder and work smarter!

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by: mooncat @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 17:40:17 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Come on, guys! (4.00 / 1)

Is this really negative?  The PR is quoting Sparks' own words, which you have to admit don't entirely line up with his real and anticipated actions -- we would normally call that "keeping them honest" or some such.  In fact, we bloggers frequently call it something a lot stronger. 

Is the political elite in Montgomery so thin skinned that this fairly mild (and amusing) collection of quotes seems truly scandalous?  God, y'all need to get out more.   In case you missed the point of the last couple of national elections, honest, straightforward discourse is a winner; spin, exaggeration and mealy-mouthed tell-'em-what-they-want-to-hear are out of fashion.  Here in the hinterlands we appreciate being treated like reasonably intelligent adults and genuine, honest answers from a politician are refreshing.  Trust me, voters are smart enough to understand the truth.

If Ron Sparks has good political sense -- and he can be as genuine as anyone I've seen -- he'll give an honest explanation for his shifting sights and an honest reason for seeking a promotion from voters.  "Because it's there" may be reason enough to climb a mountain, but it's not reason enough to run for public office.  Tell me what you want to do with that office when you ask for my vote.

Davis has pitched a fairly hard, clean ball.  Sparks can knock it out of the park or he can flinch.  It's a challenge, nothing more, nothing less.

Work harder and work smarter!

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by: mooncat @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 18:27:36 PM CDT

You've got a good point! (4.00 / 1)

If Tim James, Ivey, etc. etc. had done the Sparks waffle dance, we'd be all over them - hopefully with video.

 

I'm not short.  I'm fun size!!

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by: countrycat @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 21:36:19 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

This is interesting (4.00 / 2)

Artur Davis has essentially called out Ron Sparks.  Sparks' reaction will tell Davis - and everybody in Alabama who's watching - what kind of campaign he'll run.

This can be an advantage for Davis, in a know-your-adversary kind of way.  But if Sparks is strategically smart, it can be an advantage for him - he can address this press release point-by-point to put himself in the best light.  Sparks can also score off Davis with a sunny-side-up, cheerful response to this hardball presentation of Sparks' own words.

Sparks can make lemonade out of this lemon - or not.

The exchanges over the next few weeks and months will tell us much about these candidates.  And that is a Good Thing!

"The War in Iraq is not the disease. The War in Iraq is a symptom. Arrogance is the disease" - Bill Richardson

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by: herding old cats @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 21:36:19 PM CDT

Do you think Davis was trying to intimidate Sparks into not running? (4.00 / 3)

If Davis attacks before Sparks announces, is he hoping to intimidate our non confrontational Sparks into not running or running for Secretary of State? I am thinking it was a preemtive strike.

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by: Sundog @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 22:01:37 PM CDT

I think it is more like a "probe" (4.00 / 1)

To see how Sparks reacts.

It could turn out positive for either side.  Or negative.

 This is kind of like when a military unit makes a feint - say a radar pulse by an AAA unit, or a sonar probe by a submarine - to find out how the adversary will react.  That knowledge is highly prized intelligence.

"The War in Iraq is not the disease. The War in Iraq is a symptom. Arrogance is the disease" - Bill Richardson

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by: herding old cats @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 22:52:27 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Mainstream media (0.00 / 0)

Patricia McCarter of the Huntsville Times seems to have totally misunderstood the Davis press release.

Davis press release says ag chief won't seek governorship

The question of will he or won't he was likely answered Thursday morning in a press release from the Artur Davis 2010 gubernatorial campaign.

State Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks will not be a Democratic candidate for governor in 2010, says the press release. Instead, as he'll tell whoever attends a press conference at the Madison County Courthouse at 3:30 p.m. today, he'll be running for lieutenant governor.

The Davis PR wasn't making a prediction -- it was quoting stuff coming from the Sparks campaign, which has been all over the map regarding which office he's running for.  

There's also a related editorial in the Decatur Daily, seemingly advising Sparks to stay out of the governor's race.

 

Work harder and work smarter!

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by: mooncat @ Fri Apr 03, 2009 at 07:07:27 AM CDT

I do have to wonder where they're coming from (0.00 / 0)

I also still say they're wrong. Everyone right now is making assumptions because of the success of Obama and they are forgetting that Alabama ain't America, and that, without a staggered primary, there is no Iowa. Also, unlike the presidential primary, there actually is something on the line in the 2010 elections, namely, control of the state legislature. On Doc's Political Parlor, in the article that was linked here about Bedford, an anonymous commenter made a comment about Bedford being corrupt and then went on further to make a comment about how this combined with Obama was "going to lead to victory in 2010" and ended it off with the "payback is a bitch" line.

 The Republican strategy is going to be to try and link all Alabama Democrats to Obama because they know that he is unpopular with the states whites and because they know that for a Democrat to win statewide office, they need 40% of the white vote (right now, Sparks has actually won a majority at least once, back in 2006) and they know that Democratic control of the legislature is incumbent upon white voters in rural areas many of whom they know voted in the Republican presidential primary in '08. My statistics which I'll continue with bear this out.

 I seem to remember that there was a time where everyone assumed that Clinton simply had a lock and we all saw how that turned out. I personally, just don't see how the numbers support a Davis victory. It could turn out to be a very close race, but I still see Sparks coming out with a 52% type victory even if it does go down the line by race, cause the areas where Davis will get white votes simply won't be voting in a Democratic primary.

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by: jacool @ Fri Apr 03, 2009 at 09:43:09 AM CDT

[ Parent ]