In the first positive news I’ve seen on Alabama politics in a long time….Katie Boyd Britt entered the race to fill Richard Shelby’s US Senate seat.
She has some huge political assets, and some liabilities.
Good points:
- She’s brilliant, personable, and photogenic (I know that “photogenic” shouldn’t matter, but when you’re running for office in Alabama, it does).
- Britt could debate circles around Brooks….assuming he’s stupid enough to debate her at all. If he dodges her, he’s ducking a 37-year-old rookie. But if he doesn’t, he’ll get his clock cleaned.
- Nobody ever said Mo Brooks was smart, so I honestly don’t know what he’ll do. But it’ll be political theater either way.
- I first heard of Britt when she was Katie Boyd, working as a student in Dr. Witt’s office. He raved about her almost 20 years ago. If Robert Witt says she’s sharp, she’s sharp.
- Britt worked on Richard Shelby’s staff for several years, eventually rising to Chief of Staff.
- Richard Shelby wants her to be his successor.
- She’s been in the top political office she was eligible for — Governor of Girls State. President of the SGA in Tuscaloosa. Then on to law practice, Shelby’s staff, and until yesterday, the President of the Alabama Business Council.
- Whereas Mo Brooks’ and Kathryn Blanchard’s entire platforms will be, “I love Donald Trump,” I’d be shocked if Katie Britt utters Trump’s name except when there’s no getting around it.
- I think Katie will be able to walk the incredibly fine line, and be independent of Trump, without alienating the part of the Republican Party that is disgusted with his grandstanding, lies and arrogance. Best case is that Brooks and Blanchard split the loony wing of the party, and Britt gets everything else.
- It doesn’t hurt that she’s married to Wesley Britt, former Alabama and New England Patriot Offensive Tackle.
Vulnerabilities:
- She’s never held truly public elected office. But then, neither has Kathryn Blanchard — she’s only been Trump’s Ambassador to Slovenia (Melania’s native country).
- Britt is only 37. That could also be a strength.
- She doesn’t have name recognition….yet. She will. But then again, neither does Kathryn Blanchard.
- Her candidacy is an uphill climb in any event, and needs Richard Shelby’s vocal, enthusiastic, and constant support on both the campaign and fund-raising trails. Shelby, however, just turned 87, and I’m not sure what kind of energy he has for that task.
- It’s possible that she doesn’t really expect to win, and is running here to build name recognition, and her real aim is another office in some later election cycle. If so, the populace will pick up on that and she’ll be doomed this go-round.
- Plus, the “name recognition” game is a gamble. A candidate can lose once and be elected to that office or another one later. If a candidate loses twice, that stink kind of rubs off, and it’s really hard to win a third race.
- Biggest vulnerability — at least in part because of never having run for a truly public office, and not having name recognition, she doesn’t have much of a campaign fund. Mo Brooks definitely does, and an article I read said that Kathryn Blanchard lent her own campaign $5 million.
Acknowledging vulnerabilities, I finally have somebody I can support.
She has some huge political assets, and some liabilities.
Good points:
- She’s brilliant, personable, and photogenic (I know that “photogenic” shouldn’t matter, but when you’re running for office in Alabama, it does).
- Britt could debate circles around Brooks….assuming he’s stupid enough to debate her at all. If he dodges her, he’s ducking a 37-year-old rookie. But if he doesn’t, he’ll get his clock cleaned.
- Nobody ever said Mo Brooks was smart, so I honestly don’t know what he’ll do. But it’ll be political theater either way.
- I first heard of Britt when she was Katie Boyd, working as a student in Dr. Witt’s office. He raved about her almost 20 years ago. If Robert Witt says she’s sharp, she’s sharp.
- Britt worked on Richard Shelby’s staff for several years, eventually rising to Chief of Staff.
- Richard Shelby wants her to be his successor.
- She’s been in the top political office she was eligible for — Governor of Girls State. President of the SGA in Tuscaloosa. Then on to law practice, Shelby’s staff, and until yesterday, the President of the Alabama Business Council.
- Whereas Mo Brooks’ and Kathryn Blanchard’s entire platforms will be, “I love Donald Trump,” I’d be shocked if Katie Britt utters Trump’s name except when there’s no getting around it.
- I think Katie will be able to walk the incredibly fine line, and be independent of Trump, without alienating the part of the Republican Party that is disgusted with his grandstanding, lies and arrogance. Best case is that Brooks and Blanchard split the loony wing of the party, and Britt gets everything else.
- It doesn’t hurt that she’s married to Wesley Britt, former Alabama and New England Patriot Offensive Tackle.
Vulnerabilities:
- She’s never held truly public elected office. But then, neither has Kathryn Blanchard — she’s only been Trump’s Ambassador to Slovenia (Melania’s native country).
- Britt is only 37. That could also be a strength.
- She doesn’t have name recognition….yet. She will. But then again, neither does Kathryn Blanchard.
- Her candidacy is an uphill climb in any event, and needs Richard Shelby’s vocal, enthusiastic, and constant support on both the campaign and fund-raising trails. Shelby, however, just turned 87, and I’m not sure what kind of energy he has for that task.
- It’s possible that she doesn’t really expect to win, and is running here to build name recognition, and her real aim is another office in some later election cycle. If so, the populace will pick up on that and she’ll be doomed this go-round.
- Plus, the “name recognition” game is a gamble. A candidate can lose once and be elected to that office or another one later. If a candidate loses twice, that stink kind of rubs off, and it’s really hard to win a third race.
- Biggest vulnerability — at least in part because of never having run for a truly public office, and not having name recognition, she doesn’t have much of a campaign fund. Mo Brooks definitely does, and an article I read said that Kathryn Blanchard lent her own campaign $5 million.
Acknowledging vulnerabilities, I finally have somebody I can support.
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