Montgomery – The governor and the Alabama Republican Party are looking beyond this year's elections to the legislative contests in 2010. The party has started a fundraising drive called Campaign 2010 and Governor Riley is serving as chairman.
The goal is to raise $4 million, with most of that going to legislative races. Party Chairman Mike Hubbard says the goal is to try to gain control of the Legislature in 2010.
But state Democratic Party Chairman Joe Turnham says his party isn't sitting idle. It is also preparing for 2010 and intends to retain a majority in both houses of the Legislature.
Currently, the Legislatures in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina have Republican majorities in both houses.
Democrats hold a majority in both chambers in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and North Carolina. The Legislatures in Virginia and Kentucky are split, with Democrats having a majority in one house and Republicans in the other. In Tennessee, Democrats have a majority in the House, but the Senate is evenly divided with one independent.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)