Following Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright’s announcement Tuesday that he would seek the open 2nd district seat as a Democrat, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released an October poll that showed Bright winning in head-to-head matchups with his two top Republican contenders.

The poll of 400 likely voters was conducted Oct. 2-4, 2007, by Anzalone Liszt Research and tested Bright — who is elected mayor in nonpartisan elections — as a Democratic candidate. Bright led state Rep. Jay Love (R) 46 percent to 27 percent and led state Sen. Harri Anne Smith (R) 43 percent to 38 percent. Several other Republicans who have since announced for the race were not included in the October poll.

The poll estimated that the Montgomery media market, where Bright led in name identification, will make up about 60 percent of the general electorate. Bright had a 68 percent to 17 percent favorable/unfavorable rating in the Montgomery market, according to the poll.

Bright has acknowledged that he faces a tough battle running as a Democrat in a district where retiring Rep. Terry Everett (R) never had any trouble winning re-election and where President Bush took 67 percent of the vote in 2004. But he and DCCC officials say he has the kind of conservative profile that will allow a Democratic candidate to compete in southeast Alabama.
— John McArdle