7 Things: Last polls out as voting starts, Durant calls Britt corrupt while indicating support to Brooks and more …

—

May 24, 2022

7. Monkeypox mania has people going bananas

As more cases of monkeypox are reported, Belgium has declared that those who have tested positive for the disease will have to quarantine for 21 days. Belgium has only reported four cases of monkeypox so far.
Worldwide, there are about 100 cases of monkeypox. The disease is thought to be treatable and preventable with current medications and vaccines. The government announcement from Belgium said, “Infected persons will have to go into contact isolation until the injuries have healed (they will receive concrete instructions about this from the treating doctor).”

6. Supreme Court still hasn’t ruled on abortion

In the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case that is being considered by the U.S. Supreme Court, there has still been no ruling, but more opinions have been issued. This case could potentially overturn Roe v. Wade.
Despite the protests and acts of violence that have taken place across the country in response to the leaked opinion that the court would likely overturn Roe v. Wade, they are not speeding up their process and ruling early.

5. Biden’s approval rating continues to sink

President Joe Biden has been facing low approval ratings for months, but now his rating from the NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ poll shows that his approval rating sits at only 43%, while his disapproval rating is at 57%.
Of those who disapprove of Biden’s job performance, 40% said they “strongly disapprove” and 17% “somewhat disapprove.” Only last month, the same poll showed Biden with a 53% approval rating. This new data comes as inflation continues to soar and gas prices are at record levels.

4. Britt gets the nod of a website she would rather not

Katie Britt closes the first part of the U.S. Senate race with a message of working with Alabama families and selling her conservative credentials. Liberal website Slate.com has a different reason to vote for her. In their coverage, they warn Alabama voters to not risk their political power by choosing anyone else, saying, “Shelby and the establishment Republicans have dubbed Britt their favored successor, pouring millions into her campaign.”
The fact is simple here. Britt’s pitch is to quietly let people know she will continue the service of Senator Richard Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa) without openly campaigning on that angle. Slate seems to see that side of it, and Britt’s campaign would probably rather not have these things being said out loud by them or ally Steve Flowers. Slate added in the piece, “Steve Flowers creepily added, ‘I’ve watched Katie Britt grow up. She’s had ‘governor’ or ‘senator’ written on her since she was a little girl.’”

3. Cruz comes to pitch Brooks as a conservative fighter

At the Huntsville International Airport, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) stopped to help campaign for U.S. Representative Mo Brooks’ (R-Huntsville) bid for U.S. Senate, stating his support for Brooks and touting his record.
Cruz said, “I worked with Mo in Congress when Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer had been fighting to undermine our country…I tell you Mo and I stood up together and fought for Congress to examine election fraud and shine a light on it…So, when it comes to who’s actually going to stand and fight, I don’t have to guess. I don’t have to roll the dice because I’ve been in the trenches with Mo Brooks. I know the people of Alabama can count on him.”

2. Durant seems to throw in the towel and toss support behind Brooks

In a moment of frustration, Mike Durant lamented in a WHNT-TV interview the attack ads that have decimated his campaign. While speaking about his lagging poll numbers, he called fellow candidate Katie Britt “corrupt” and said he would be supporting U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) in a runoff, if one were to happen.
Durant, who at one point was the frontrunner, said, “If you are going to be that corrupt in an election, you are going to be that corrupt in office.” This is a very strange thing to say on election eve, and the Brooks campaign should be thrilled while the Britt campaign should be worried.

1. A last batch of polls show the state of many races as the voting starts

A statewide candidate for office (who is not running for governor or U.S. Senate) conducted a statewide poll that could provide a preview of tonight’s results. In the two big races, only one looks to be headed for a runoff for sure. The U.S. Senate race has Britt (39%) leading Brooks (33%) and Durant (22%), while Governor Kay Ivey appears to be ready to end the race today with 53% of those polled choosing her with Lindy Blanchard (20%) and Tim James (18%) far behind.
In other statewide races, State Representative Wes Allen (R-Troy) trails State Auditor Jim Ziegler (who could win without a runoff) for Alabama Secretary of State while Ziegler’s post is up for grabs with Stan Cooke leading with 42% over State Rep. Andrew Sorrell (R-Muscle Shoals) at 33% and former State Senator Rusty Glover trailing with 23%. For Supreme Court, Greg Cook is leading Deborah Jones easily (56%-44%). Both Public Service Commission races are close with incumbents Jeremy Oden (District 1) and Chip Beeker (District 2) tied with their challengers and looking at runoffs.