Here is the extended version of Luther Strange’s interview with WSFA’s Mark Bullock.

Click here if the video player is not working.

Attorney General Troy King faces many fronts at the end of this week.

First, his much-talked about announcement Wednesday about his authority over the governor’s anti-gambling task force was quickly dismissed by task force commander John Tyson.

Now, Legislative Black Caucus chairman Rep. John Rogers complains King is “backing down.” Rogers says he will turn to the U.S. Department of Justice to deal with what he calls “intimidation” of electronic bingo operations by the task force. An attorney for the city of Midfield says he won’t wait for King. He’s considering a lawsuit challenging the task force authority.

While that struggle continues, King’s Republican rival for AG, Luther Strange, sticks to mocking humor, comparing King to a groundhog.

The moderator of Tuesday’s gubernatorial forum at Samford University says Republicans Bradley Byrne, Bill Johnson and Democrat Artur Davis may have best explained their vision to a crowded auditorium of faculty, students, politicos and business leaders. Watch Birmingham Business Journal editor Craig Ey’s comments here (go to 8:16 in the video).

The Davis campaign has been aggressive this week in its questioning of Democratic rival Ron Sparks and that $500,000 personal loan to his campaign. It’s a case of “where did the money come from?” Davis asks in this campaign release.

The Birmingham News, Mobile Press Register, Mooncat at Left in Alabama and Danny at Political Parlor also want to know.

Republican Roy Moore skipped Tuesday’s gubernatorial forum to campaign in southeast Alabama. Following an interview Thursday on FOX6 News Good Day Alabama, Moore answered more questions about the race. He expresses frustration that more privately funded polls aren’t made public. Moore contends they would clearly show him leading the Republican field. He believes a recent PSA poll was slanted for Byrne. On the topic of Byrne, Moore had interesting comments about the “Bible flap” story that hounded the Mobile Republican in December and January. Moore noted Byrne’s first commercials of the campaign.

“I’m often accused for using my religion for politics,” Moore says, “so many are just saying it for politics.”

Finally, a statement from RNC chairman Michael Steele is showcased on the state GOP website concerning a legislative pickup in HD40.

Who had a good week? And who…. not so much? Let me know.

Read more of Rick Journey’s blogs here.

A new video on a new site: the Strange campaign has launched FindTroyKing.com with the Troy King is Missing video. Watch the video on YouTube here.

The King cover of Johnny Cash apparently dates back to late 2007.

You can find some background at Doc’s Political Parlor and Left in Alabama.

Maybe we should call this the battle for the Man in Black vote.

Last September, Team King posted this “endorsement” by Johnny Cash Radio on YouTube. Listen here.

Read more of Rick Journey’s blogs here.

The poll, conducted by Baselice and Associates out of Austin, Texas says if the Republican primary were held today, Bradley Byrne leads the field with 20% of voters. Undecided’s carry the day in the survey.

Bradley Byrne (20%), Roy Moore (17%), Tim James (8%), Robert Bentley (4%), Kay Ivey (3%), Bill Johnson (2%),  Undecided (46%)

In the Republican primary for Attorney General…

Troy King (27%), Luther Strange (24%), Undecided (49%)

In an early look at the 2012 race for President….

Mike Huckabee (33%), Sarah Palin (23%), Mitt Romney (12%), Ron Paul (5%), Tim Pawlenty (2%), Undecided (24%)

Mike Baselice surveyed 1,007 likely Republican primary voters on February 3 and 4.

PSA just completed a presentation over lunch to Republican lawmakers in Montgomery. In a news release, Baselice is quoted saying “since we didn’t poll name ID, but only a generic ballot, it appears most of the candidates have a lot of potential for upward momentum. It will all come down to who can get a message that resonates.”

PSA worked briefly last year for Rep. Bentley’s campaign for governor.

Rick Journey

Republican Attorney General Candidate, Luther Strange, took issue with remarks from his opponent in the GOP primary, incumbent AG, Troy King.  Here’s Strange’s comments from his campaign office:

__________________________

From Luther Strange:

“I am deeply disturbed by what I believe are disparaging remarks from Attorney General Troy King about our state’s law enforcement officials. Mr. King accuses law enforcement professionals of, “midnight raids, with gun-toting armies” for their work on  the Governor’s Task Force on Illegal Gambling. He says their work is, “a dangerous path to put us on,” in a Mobile Register interview.

Is this the kind of behavior we should expect from the person responsible for enforcing the laws of our state? I would never criticize law enforcement  officials for doing the very difficult job they have of enforcing the laws of our state. It’s their sworn duty, not just their civic duty, and they deserve our constant thanks. The members of the Task Force on Illegal Gambling are doing their jobs, regardless of their personal opinions.

Shouldn’t we expect the same from the attorney general? What’s doubly troubling is the fact that Mr. King has refused to enforce the law, leaving the job to a special task force the governor had to create because King is either unwilling or unable to carry out his responsibilities due to a compromising relationship with gambling interests.

This is the first time in memory an Alabama governor has had to create a task force to enforce the law — a job we pay the attorney general to do. We should all be disappointed in Mr. King’s vocal disrespect for Alabama’s law enforcement professionals. I admire the blind justice provided by police officers, troopers, sheriff’s deputies and court officers who put themselves on the front lines of public safety and law enforcement. Anything less than respect for these men and women is unacceptable.”

Attorney General candidate Luther Strange weighs in on gambling issue and the role of the current AG.  His press release released 1/13/10
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala– Requests by leaders in Houston County for attorney general Troy King to litigate the legality of electronic bingo machines at Dothan’s Country Crossing development are commendable calls for King to enforce the laws of the State of Alabama, according to Republican candidate for attorney general, Luther Strange.

“I’ve been calling on the attorney general for months to enforce the laws of the State not only in Dothan but in every city in Alabama where electronic casino style gambling is taking place, something Mr. King has consistently failed to do.

“According to news reports, Troy King has a tangled web of relationships with gambling owners and investors that some suggest have impeded his ability to enforce the law. In fact, Mr. King’s attendance at lavish parties and fundraisers thrown by the very people who he would be investigating certainly raises that question. Unfortunately, I suspect that Troy King will continue his practice of trying to have it both ways on this issue by refusing to enforce our existing laws and then endorsing some sort of legislation to outlaw gambling. “

“The issue of enforcing the laws of the state is not as complicated as Mr. King would like us to think. The answer is for Mr. King to listen to the people of Houston County, the governor, district attorneys, law enforcement officials and others and do the job the people elected him to do. Enforce the law,” Strange said.