Alabama - strong for McCain

Alabama is leaning strongly for John McCain.  A Capital Research Survey Poll for Sept. 3 through Sept. 9, 2008 put McCain at 55% and Obama at 35%.  Alabama native Representative Bob Barr will be listed as an Independent on the Alabama ballot, and will be running as a Libertarian in other states.  Despite his conservative views on many issues, his support is only at 1% and does not seem to be damaging McCain's lead at all.

In 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004 the state voted Republican by at least 47%, and by 62.5% in 2004.  Alabama has a Republican governor and two Republican senators, and in 2006 Alabama saw high participation rates among Republicans.

Key issues in Alabama are cultural/religious, and tax-focused.  Initiatives to raise taxes have met widespread opposition in the state.  A woman named Vivian Figures is challenging incumbent Republican Senator Jeff Sessions, and this has been called "republican favored" by the website cqpolitics.com.

It is interesting that in the same poll cited above, 62% of people said that Joe Biden would be qualified to serve as president if needed, and 56% said that Sarah Palin would be qualified.  If the Obama campaign works extremely hard to build on this perception of the vice presidential candidates' experience, they might be able to catch up to McCain.  Alabama does have a strong Democratic coalition of blacks and poor whites, but in the recent past they have not triumphed in state or national politics.