Alabama district 45 is a very Republican and conservative district east of Birmingham. Yet in the House race, the Republicans have brought in
John McCain against the Democrat, Pat Sewell. I worked for Pat when she was on the Birmingham City Council from 1989 to 1997. She's conservative and churchgoing. She's also a fearless advocate of open government, citizenship, tolerance and common sense.
Her Republican opponent, who beat the R incumbent in the primary, has hardly campagined at all. Pat has hit the neighborhoods, churches, civic groups and airwaves with her message of working together and respecting the voter. The Republican thought he'd coast on his party identification because it's a highly R district. But Pat's neck and neck with him.
It's got to be pretty bad in the Solid South when they have to bring in John McCain to record robocalls to help a Republican in a state House race in a conservative district. I hope this means that even here in the Red south, people are ready for a change.
Pat Sewell for Alabama House 45: http://www.patsewell.com/