By Tyler Pruett
tyler@southerntorch.com
ALABAMA, USA— This presidential primary was one unlike any other in recent memory for our state. Alabama saw visits from every major candidate of both parties. While candidates have visited in past nomination processes, normally visits are infrequent and mainly focus on fundraising. Having private fundraisers generates much needed campaign cash, but these events are exclusive, and don’t engage the everyday primary voter.
The SEC Primary was the product of rare collaboration between two state-level elected officials. Brian Kemp (R-GA) and John Merrill (R-AL), both serving as secretaries of state, sought to increase attention needed to win the whole region. This would better engage ordinary citizens in the process, along with giving the public a more direct avenue to have their voices heard. It also would change the national process as a whole, putting more delegates at stake on an earlier date. Let’s recap all the big things that happened in Alabama leading up to the primaries.
Alabama was visited by almost every major candidate
Immediately after signing the bill into law moving our state’s primaries to coincide with six other southern states, candidates began scheduling and expressing intent to visit our state. Many even visited our state while dropping from the race before our primary. Campaign events kicked off in August, and with most of the surrounding states sharing the same primary dates, this ensured candidates could easily travel the region, visiting each. All of the current frontrunners nationally, from both the Democratic and Republican parties, each visited Alabama multiple times, hosting rallies for thousands of supporters.
Donald Trump picked up a lot of steam in Alabama
Real estate mogul Donald J. Trump’s campaign picked up a ton of steam while visiting Alabama. Some big moments happened right here at home. In August, Trump held his largest rally to date, which really got the media buzzing about his potential to be selected as the nominee. Although his campaign reported 36,000, most media outlets estimated 20,000. Despite the difference, even 20,000 is unheard of at that early stage of the primary, especially for someone most insiders predicted to not last long. U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions, who is known for his strong stance on illegal immigration, spoke and embraced Trump at this rally, helping to define him as an immigration focused candidate. Sessions would later endorse Trump just before ballots were cast at a similarly attended rally in Madison. This would prove to be his most valuable endorsement to date.
Hillary accused Alabama of voter supporession
In mid-October, Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton publicly accused Alabama elected officials of trying to suppress the vote with voter identification laws and the closing of several Driver’s License offices while in Hoover. She also penned an opinion editorial in one of the state’s largest media outlets, AL.com, making the same accusation. Governor Bentley and other state officials rebuked her claim, but it helped solidify her support among African-Americans in the south, leading to a SEC primary clobbering of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Addressing the crowd in Hoover regarding the perceived vote suppression, in her folksy twang only reserved for south of the Mason-Dixon line, Clinton used the analogy, “If a turtle is on a fence post, he didn’t get there own his own!” Well if Hillary were that turtle, the SEC primary helped put her there.
Trickle down to the local level
The heightened level of national media coverage not only heightened the public’s interest in the presidential races, but also increased interest in local politics. This created a sort of “trickle down” effect that benefitted local candidates. Several events were held in Dekalb County that were well attended, and provided the average voter the chance to engage candidates in races from Board of Education all the way to U.S. Senate. It there is more citizen involvement, it encourages candidates to spend more time engaging face to face with the public. One such event here locally was the Republican Women’s Candidate Meet and Greet, held at the Coal and Iron building in Fort Payne. Many members of the public came to meet candidates face-to-face.
What can we expect in future election cycles?
Probably the best result of the coordinated primary date, is the large increase in voter turnout. While exact figures are unknown as of now, early estimates from the Secretary of State’s office project it to exceed 50 percent. The highest recorded in the state up until 2016 was 42 percent. We can only expect this to increase in the future. More at stake, meant more exposure to candidates, not only by live appearances, but campaigns spent valuable advertising resources here. Alabamians were suddenly bombarded with presidential ads just like citizens of swing states get every four years. Being politically important can have it’s downsides, but like it or not, the SEC Primary achieved that goal.
