Poll shows favorable numbers if Ivey enters gubernatorial race
By Sebastian Kitchen
State Treasurer Kay Ivey seriously is exploring a run for governor in 2010 with $1 million in her campaign account, an office downtown and poll results she wants to share with fellow Republicans.
Ivey shared those results with state media Thursday, but said she will wait for feedback from Republicans in the state before she decides whether she is going to run.
She said she will make that decision sometime between now and June. Ivey is in her second term as treasurer and cannot run for a third consecutive term.
The poll, conducted by Kellyanne Conway of the polling co. inc. in Washington, shows Ivey with high name recognition among Alabama voters and a strong favorable rating.
Ivey said she has been contemplating a run for governor for about a year and said the response has been “encouraging enough for me to pay to engage a first-class pollster.”
The results of the poll, which surveyed 503 people who voted in the November election, shows Ivey with no “red flags.” About two-thirds of people polled said it made no difference that Ivey was single, had no children and would be 66 at the time of the election.
Conway, in a video Ivey showed reporters, said those issues could have been potential political liabili ties.
D’Linell Finley, assistant professor of political science at Auburn Mont gomery, said Ivey would have an early advantage in the Republican pri mary because of the name recognition from her two terms in statewide office.
The other factor, the professor said, is how much money she can raise. He said other possible candidates, such as businessman Tim James or former lieutenant governor candidate Luther Strange, might be able to offset any lead through raising large amounts of money.
The formula would change significantly in the general election, Finley said.
“I don’t think the 2010 year is going to be a real advantage for Republican candidates,” he said. “The end results will be very close.”
Finley expects the race to be competitive and expensive.
Ivey had packets for the media and showed them the video of Conway talking about the results of the poll. The potential gubernatorial candidate plans to begin distributing a version of that video to Republicans in the state in the next two weeks.
In the video, Conway states she is “excited to work for Kay Ivey as she runs for governor in 2010.” She said Ivey contacted her in early 2008.
Ivey is one of several people discussed as a potential candidate for governor in 2010. The only announced candidate is Republican businessman Tim James.
Other possible Republican candidates include U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, former state senator and two-year college Chancellor Bradley Byrne, Attorney General Troy King, and Troy University Chancellor Jack Hawkins.
Democrats who might run include U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom Jr. and Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks.
The Ivey poll did not put her in head-to-head match-ups with any other potential candidates. The pollsters asked those surveyed about the name recognition and favorability of some other potential candidates, but Ivey’s camp did not release those names or results to the media.
“Kay Ivey’s numbers make her a very attractive candidate for governor in 2010,” Conway said.
Ivey said the poll was more about people’s priorities, such as their experience and achievements.
Conway discusses Ivey’s background in banking, education and as state treasurer. She also lauded Ivey’s work to reduce the budget and positions in the treasurer’s office and her work to improve the state’s college tuition savings programs.
Ivey also received the most votes of any statewide candidate in 2006, topping 60 percent.
She formed an exploratory committee and has advisers, including Republican lawyer and party activist Will Sellers. Sellers said Ivey appeals across party lines and within the different facets of the Republican party.
