angelatc
11-05-2013, 02:57 PM
Nice of Reuters to hold this story until election day:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/05/us-usa-alabama-congress-idUSBRE9A40XV20131105
A tight primary election in an Alabama Republican stronghold has pitted a business-backed former state senator against a Tea Party movement favorite in a race highlighting tensions between the party's pragmatic and ideological wings over the recent government shutdown.
Major businesses including Wal-Mart Stores Inc and Home Depot Inc are backing the campaign of former lawmaker Bradley Byrne, saying the 58-year-old attorney better represents their interests than Dean Young, a wealthy real estate developer running a grass-roots campaign.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce sent their national political director, Rob Engstrom, to Alabama last week to an endorsement event with Byrne, a former Democrat who joined the Republicans in 1997.
Many of its members, such as Wal-Mart and Home Depot, have sent funds to Byrne's campaign, part of a total war chest of more than $689,000 according to the Federal Election Commission.
"Washington needs proven leaders who understand the principals of free enterprise," the chamber's spokesman Blair Latoff Holmes said.
His donor list reads like a who's who of national and local business leaders, with politicians such as House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, tossing in contributions.
In contrast, Young depends on grass-roots support with only a modest $85,546 raised, according to the FEC.
Quick - go donate to Justin Amash.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/05/us-usa-alabama-congress-idUSBRE9A40XV20131105
A tight primary election in an Alabama Republican stronghold has pitted a business-backed former state senator against a Tea Party movement favorite in a race highlighting tensions between the party's pragmatic and ideological wings over the recent government shutdown.
Major businesses including Wal-Mart Stores Inc and Home Depot Inc are backing the campaign of former lawmaker Bradley Byrne, saying the 58-year-old attorney better represents their interests than Dean Young, a wealthy real estate developer running a grass-roots campaign.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce sent their national political director, Rob Engstrom, to Alabama last week to an endorsement event with Byrne, a former Democrat who joined the Republicans in 1997.
Many of its members, such as Wal-Mart and Home Depot, have sent funds to Byrne's campaign, part of a total war chest of more than $689,000 according to the Federal Election Commission.
"Washington needs proven leaders who understand the principals of free enterprise," the chamber's spokesman Blair Latoff Holmes said.
His donor list reads like a who's who of national and local business leaders, with politicians such as House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, tossing in contributions.
In contrast, Young depends on grass-roots support with only a modest $85,546 raised, according to the FEC.
Quick - go donate to Justin Amash.