If the antics continue, we may be in for one of the most entertaining races for Governor that Alabama has seen in recent memory. Former Democratic State Senator, Democratic United States Congressman, then Republican United States Congressman, and current Democratic Gubernatorial nominee Parker Griffith has made quite a scene in the past weeks. After Governor Bentley made it clear that he is not opposed to a debate, but feels disinclined to constantly debate his challenger, and thereby give Griffith the free publicity that he needs so badly, Griffith has taken to touring the state with a large inflatable yellow rubber duck, accusing Bentley of ducking the debates, as well as unveiling a campaign ad where he is very animated, pointing a finger accusingly at the camera and almost screaming that Governor Bentley is “a failed Governor and a coward.”
A key advantage Bentley enjoys is his incumbency...and a 72% approval rating. In any race the incumbent has the advantages of both name recognition and the inherent distrust of voters to allow an untried challenger to take over a job that the incumbent has already proven capable of. Compounding this factor in this year’s race is Griffith’s lack of ability to get his name out there and amass a following.
In markers of political campaign success of both the older and younger generations Griffith is underperforming. One would be hard pressed to find a yard sign for the Gubernatorial candidate that polling data suggests is expected to lose by more than 20 percentage points. Likewise, Griffith’s social media statistics are anemic in comparison to Bentley’s. On Twitter @Griffith2014 has just 938 followers, while The Governor’s account, @GovernorBentley has upwards of 26,000. Likewise, in the arena of Facebook, Bentley for Governor has 48,370 Likes, while Parker Griffith for Governor has only 2,919.
Griffith also lags significantly behind in funding. According to campaign finance reports filed with the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office, Bentley currently has almost $3.2 million in campaign funds in his war chest, while Griffith’s coffers are down to just over a relatively trivial $25,000. While it is obvious that Griffith has already kicked off his campaign in a big way, including his unhinged ads and anatine antics, this gap will leave the currently Democratic candidate at a huge disadvantage during the prime political season leading up to November 4th.
Griffith has built his platform on three real issues: jobs, an education lottery, and Bentley’s refusal to expand Medicaid under Obamacare, but his campaign has been focused on his desperate cries for attention. Griffith knows that with the huge disadvantages he faces, and with his lack of sufficient funding to overcome them, the only way to stand a chance against the popular Republican Governor is to make himself a spectacle. All we have to do is sit back and enjoy the show.
By Joseph Mayes, Southern Torch Political Reporter
