Alabama Politics » Alabama governor’s race

Sparks & Bentley: Raw & Unscripted

Scott Richards — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 01:18:59 +0000

You are going to see something this week (Tuesday & Wednesday Oct 5th & 6th at 9:30 PM) that you never get to see on television news.”

You’re going to see your candidates for governor raw, unscripted, and behind the scenes wearing a TV news microphone out on the campaign trail for hour after hour. We will condense it to bring you the most informative and most entertaining parts of their day. The candidates move fast and the stories will move even faster. You will see the animals (political animals) in their native habitat.

You won’t see this on any other television station and frankly, we made these stories happen only with a commitment that is unprecedented in modern broadcasting.

First, it meant getting both candidates to agree to wear our microphone everywhere they went without restrictions. None. In these days of “gotcha” journalism” I was pleased both candidates trusted me enough to give me that kind of access. I told them up front I wasn’t looking to hurt them, but that I would not protect them if they screwed up.

Second, it meant assigning two photographers, two of the best in the business (Aaron Lee and Mike tucker) to be with me every minute we spent on the campaign trail. Committing two photographers to a single story for that many hours is unheard of by local TV news, but management (Assistant News Director Lantz Croft and Assignments Manager Jeff Shackelford) did not hesitate to do it.

Third, it meant getting up at 3 a.m. one day and 3:30 a.m. another day to make the long haul to hook up with the candidates and put a wire on them for their first event of the day. Hey, I’m not looking for a pity party – I’m honored to do the stories. I’m just saying that after working evening shift for 30 years, I barely get to sleep by that hour!

Fourth, it meant management giving the stories extra time on the air so you can get some context and depth. A typical taped report on television will run just over 1 minute long. Each story on Sparks and Bentley will run nearly 8-1/2 minutes. That is a difficult time commitment to make in a local newscast, but management (News Director James Finch and Executive Producer Angie Bierley) were all for it. My thanks to them for supporting the coverage so strongly.

Next step is up to you. Watch Tuesday and Wednesday (October 5th & 6th) at 9:30 PM and see what you think. And let us know what you think. About the candidates… And about our coverage.

Who Are These Guys? (Bentley & Sparks)

Scott Richards — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 20:32:08 +0000

WHO ARE THESE GUYS?

Do you feel like you don’t really know the two men who are running for Alabama Governor yet?

You see their campaign commercials. You see 15 second sound bites on the news. And maybe you have even seen one of their debates. But, I’ve talked to plenty of people who say they just don’t have a good feel for what Robert Bentley and Ron Sparks are really like as people.

I can help you with that. I’ve just spent 13 hours on the campaign trail with them riding in their campaign car, going to their events and into courthouses and restaurants with them. They wore our microphone all day long. What kind of restrictions did we agree to? None. We had total access to them and their conversations.

You’ll hear their interaction with voters. You’ll also hear their answers about important issues in interviews I conducted while we were riding in the car and when we sat down for lunch. Sure, I asked about important issues such as jobs and gambling. But, also some personal things. For example, I wanted to hear whether Commissioner Sparks decided to change his hair style and shave his moustache as a public relations move. I wanted to know whether Dr. Bentley’s decision to change his actual name to “Doctor Robert Bentley” was a marketing move.

Plus, Bentley talks about his calluses. Sparks talks about his dog.

But, these descriptions I’m giving you don’t do the candidates – or our stories – justice. Even if I typed out everything they said, you wouldn’t get it. You have to see it and hear it to get the same feel for it. Only by doing that, do you get some sense of the candidates as real human beings. I really hope you’ll make a special effort to watch Tuesday and Wednesday at 9:30 PM. October 5th & 6th. If you don’t know who you’re voting for yet, you might learn something from these stories that helps you make up your mind. And if you do know who you’re voting for, tune in to see if I treat your candidate fairly. You might also learn something about your guy you didn’t already know.

October 5th & 6th at 9:30 PM exclusively on FOX6 News.

Thanks,

Scott Richards

News Anchor

Air War: Bentley and Sparks With New Commercials

Rick Journey — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 15:35:58 +0000

In case you missed it, Ron Sparks says he’s not a doctor.

The Democratic nominee for governor says he knows What’s Ailing Alabama? in his new :30 spot.

The man who is a doctor in this campaign, Republican nominee Robert Bentley, has also rolled out a new :30 commercial, I Love My Patients.

The general election is 36 days away.

Read more of Rick Journey’s blogs here.

Rasmussen: Bentley Maintains 20-Point Lead

Rick Journey — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:19:06 +0000

Democratic nominee for governor Ron Sparks dismisses Rasmussen Reports as a Republican pollster surveying Republicans for Republicans, but the latest Rasmussen Reports survey keeps GOP nominee Robert Bentley comfortably in front.

Sparks, who boasts he is gaining in a survey by the AEA’s polling wing, remains 20-points down in the RAS survey.

The latest poll has Bentley up 55% – 35%.

Among independents, Rasmussen finds Bentley with a 65% – 23% lead over Sparks.

Fifty-eight percent hold a favorable view of Bentley, a state lawmaker and Tuscaloosa doctor.

Forty-eight percent hold a favorable view of Sparks, the two-term Agriculture Commissioner.

Term-limited Gov. Bob Riley gets a 58% job approval rating.

See the details here.

Read more of Rick Journey’s blog here.

Air Wars: Sparks Runs First Commercial of Fall

Rick Journey — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:41:55 +0000

Both candidates in the race for governor have unveiled new campaign spots this week.

Republican nominee Robert Bentley talks illegal immigration in “I Will Not Wait.”

In “Chance,” Democratic nominee Ron Sparks focuses on… wait for it! An education lottery.

Sparks hosts former president Bill Clinton today at a $1,000-a-person fundraiser at Birmingham’s The Summit Club today at 1pm. Wednesday he campaigned across the state with retired general and 2004 Democratic presidential hopeful Wesley Clark.

Read more of Rick Journey’s blog here.

Bentley: Short-Term, Long-Term Plans for Job Creation

Rick Journey — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:22:40 +0000

Republican nominee for governor Robert Bentley likes the results of his continuing “picture poll.”

The Tuscaloosa dermatologist says the people who come up to shake his hand or get a photograph or an autograph shows, in his mind, support is building. Polling by Rasmussen Reports in recent weeks suggests the same.

Bentley, who has pledged to not take a salary until Alabama reaches full unemployment, says his job creation plan is both short term and long term. Short term is based on tax breaks for businesses who rehire laid off workers.

Long-term, he says, is more tax breaks, limiting “unwarranted lawsuits” and keeping Alabama a “right to work” state.

When asked how long it will take him to reduce the state’s unemployment if he is elected governor in November, Bentley suggested “it’s going to take months, rather than weeks.”

This morning on FOX6 News Good Day Alabama, Bentley vowed to remain focused on jobs if elected governor.

Read more of Rick Journey’s blog here.

Bill Clinton Campaigns for Ron Sparks

Rick Journey — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:29:13 +0000

The Ron Sparks campaign says former president Bill Clinton will come to Birmingham this week for a fundraiser.

The $1,000-a-person event takes place at the Summit Club in downtown Birmingham Thursday at 1pm.

It is billed as a discussion of “creating jobs and moving Alabama forward” in the campaign email.

The Democratic nominee for governor is campaigning in Tuscumbia this morning before traveling to a Labor Day picnic at Tannehill State Park this afternoon.

Read more of Rick Journey’s blog here.

Robert Bentley: New Spot and Bigger Lead in RAS Poll

Rick Journey — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:54:39 +0000

Dr. Robert Bentley launched the first in what his campaign calls a series of television commercials focusing on job creation in the state.

It’s Time showcases his 2010 Reemployment Act and vows to create and protect Alabama jobs.

The latest Rasmussen Reports survey meanwhile shows Bentley’s biggest lead yet in a general election matchup with Democrat Ron Sparks.

Rasmussen shows a 58%-34% lead for Bentley over Sparks.

Bentley leads Sparks among independent voters by a 56% margin among likely voters.

Read more of Rick Journey’s blog here.

Rasmussen: Bentley Leads Sparks by 20%

Rick Journey — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:23:34 +0000

Rasmussen Reports shows Republican lawmaker Robert Bentley leading Democratic Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks 55%-35% among likely Alabama voters.

The survey conducted July 22nd shows Bentley with a 3 to 1 edge among independents.

Similar to an Alabama Senate survey released yesterday, if you think the economy is improving you’re more likely to support the Democrat. If you think the economy is declining, you back the Republican.

Fifty-seven percent approve of the job Bob Riley is doing as governor.

Read more of Rick Journey’s blog here.

New Robert Bentley Spot

Rick Journey — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 14:25:08 +0000

Rep. Robert Bentley launches a new TV spot today.

Own Two Feet comes eight days before the Republican runoff for governor.

Follow Rick Journey’s blog here.