AL-GOV

Bentley Wins Alabama GOP Gubernatorial Primary

Eric Kleefeld | July 13, 2010, 10:01PM

AL-GOV candidate Robert Bentley (R)

Alabama state Rep. Robert Bentley has won the Republican primary for governor, defeating former state community college system chancellor Bradley Byrne in the race to succeed term-limited GOP Gov. Bob Riley.

With 81% of precincts reporting, Bentley leads Byrne by 56%-44%. Back in the June 1 first-round primary, Byrne led with 28% of the vote, with Bentley just barely edging out businessman Tim James for second place at 25% apiece.

This race has seen its fair share of wacky stuff. A teachers union opposed to Byrne set up a phony conservative PAC attacking him on the grounds that he's for teaching evolution -- prompting him to assure the public that he is a staunch creationist. As for Bentley, he came under scrutiny for his ads depicting him as a "Hospital Commander Vietnam War," when in fact he did not serve overseas in Vietnam at all, but was instead a doctor at a military base in North Carolina.

Bentley will now face Democratic state Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks, who won his nomination outright back on June 1.

AL-GOV

'Bama Runoff Pits Ardent Creationist Against Possible Military-Record Fibber

Eric Lach | July 13, 2010, 8:34AM

AL-GOV candidates Bradley Byrne and Robert Bentley

Today's Republican gubernatorial runoff in Alabama features two candidates, Robert Bentley and Bradley Byrne, who each failed to win 30% of the vote in the primary, and who have both had to deal with their own versions of this year's quintessential political scandals: military fibbing and not being conservative enough.

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AL-GOV

Did A GOP Candidate In AL-GOV Race Misrepresent His Vietnam Record? (VIDEO)

Eric Lach | June 25, 2010, 2:42PM

AL-GOV candidate Robert Bentley (R)

Add another politician to the list of those coming under scrutiny for potentially misrepresenting their military service on the campaign trail this year. Now Republican candidate for governor in Alabama Robert Bentley is facing questions about an ad that references his work as a medical officer during the Vietnam War.

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AL-GOV

Alabama Recount Ends -- With Losing Candidate Falling Even Further

Eric Kleefeld | June 18, 2010, 6:28PM

AL-GOV candidates Robert Bentley (R) and Tim James (R)

The recount of the first round in the Alabama Republican gubernatorial primary has come to a close -- with the status quo seemingly reaffirmed, that state Rep. Robert Bentley edged out businessman Tim James for a spot in the July 13 Republican runoff.

The first-round June 1 primary saw Bradley Byrne, the former chancellor of the state's two-year colleges, come in first place with 28% of the vote -- far short of the 50% needed to avoid a July 13 runoff. Bentley and James were virtually tied at 25% each, leading James to request a recount.

The fun part: The self-funding businessman James, a son former Gov. Fob James, spent $200,000 for the recount. And for his trouble, he lost a net 104 votes against Bentley. James has a press conference scheduled for Monday afternoon, to discuss what his next move will be.

AL-GOV

AL-GOV Republican Primary Recount Begins Tuesday

Eric Kleefeld | June 14, 2010, 6:17PM

AL-GOV candidates Robert Bentley (R) and Tim James (R)

The Alabama Republican gubernatorial primary is headed into its next phase -- a recount before a runoff.

The first-round June 1 primary saw Bradley Byrne, the former chancellor of the state's two-year colleges, come in first place with 28% of the vote -- far short of the 50% needed to avoid a July 13 runoff. In the second position, however, it was a near tie, with state Rep. Robert Bentley and businessman Tim James at 25% each -- and Bentley edging out James by 167 votes in the final certified count.

A recount requested by James will begin tomorrow, with James having sent counties checks to cover expenses that could add up to as much as $200,000. It should be noted that recounts rarely produce enough swing to change a result -- but if James's efforts pay off here, and he overtakes Bentley, the state would be a in real mess here, having already certified Byrne and Bentley as the two candidates for the runoff next month.

AL-GOV

AL-GOV Republican Run-Off Lineup Still Not Settled

Eric Kleefeld | June 3, 2010, 6:05PM

AL-GOV candidates Robert Bentley (R) and Tim James (R)

Last Tuesday's Alabama Republican primary for governor is not resolved yet, with the race going to a runoff on July 13 -- and it's not even settled yet who will be in the runoff, either.

The first-place finisher was Bradley Byrne, the former chancellor of the state's two-year college system, with 28% of the vote. But it is not yet totally clear who came in second -- state Rep. Robert Bentley leads businessman Tim James by just 208 votes, with each at about 25% of the vote.

Bentley's campaign has already claimed victory of sorts, with a press release boasting that he made the runoff. But James is not giving up. Earlier today, James publicly asked voters who had to cast provisional ballots to make sure their vote would be counted, by taking a driver's license or other identification to their county elections office by the deadline at 5 p.m. CT tomorrow. "There are an estimated 1,000 ballots that have yet to be counted," James said. "This race is still not settled."