Judge Moore picked in governor poll

Judge Roy Moore

Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, picked as a likely winner in the state's 2010 governor's race in a February poll, apparently is building on his lead.

A new unscientific readers' poll in the Birmingham Business Journal suggests he has the support of nearly two of three voters in the state.

That's despite a key opponent, businessman Tim James, directing his constituents to the poll.

The earlier poll to replace a term-limited GOP Gov. Bob Riley showed Moore, a WND columnist, leading several key possible opponents in head-to-head matchups.

That survey of more than 10,000 homes across Alabama from a database of ccAdvertising said Moore, who has not formally announced a candidacy but is expected by supporters to do so, focused on the respondents' gubernatorial preference, pitting Moore head-to-head against Republicans Kay Ivey and Tim James and Democrat Arthur Davis.

Ivey is the state treasurer while James is a Greenville businessman, the son of former Gov. Fob James. Davis is a congressman.

Moore was expelled from his position as chief justice in the state for refusing to remove a replica of the Ten Commandments from his courthouse. Since then he has been advocating for traditional American values and ethics through his Foundation for Moral Law.

Today the Business Journal results give Moore 61 percent of the vote, James 19 percent, Davis 7 percent, Ivey 1 percent and several others single digits.

James had been directing supporters who visited his website to the poll.

"Political pundits are trying to handicap this governor's race already. The field's wide open in both parties. So-called political insiders are trying their best to get a handle on the state of play. Here's an online poll that may or may not be a clear indication of how things stack up," he advised on his website.

He also dispatched e-mails with the message: "Dear Friend: This online poll in the Birmingham Business Journal is getting interesting. You may have not had the opportunity to vote yet. I'd appreciate your taking a couple of minutes and clicking onto the link below and choosing whom you want as the next Governor of Alabama:"

On the Journal forums page, the comments ranged from multiple expressions of support for Moore to the expressed desire to "FIRE THEM ALL."

"When I hear liberals say that we here in Alabama are 'backwoods' and aren't 'progressive,' I know that means that we are Conservative Christians, who are Pro-Life, Pro-Family, Anti-Big Government, Anti-Gay Marriage, Anti-Illegal Immigration, Pro-Military and Pro-2nd Amendment. I still believe in God, Family, Country and Honor. I will never apologize for my beliefs, morals or values!" a commenter said.

One of those encouraging Moore to jump into the race, Dean Young, told WND, "The 'Business Pulse Survey' respondents clearly prefer Judge Roy Moore for governor."

He said despite James efforts to publicize the poll, "It appears that the Tim James campaign is in serious trouble."

"The 'Business Pulse Survey' is showing Judge Roy Moore is definitely the favorite of all the candidates for governor, including James," he said.

Moore has not made a formal announcement but has said he will make public his plans probably within the next several weeks.

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