Montgomery, AL – The Alabama Democratic Party has failed to mount a well-known candidate against Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby.
Two Democrats signed up for the Senate race by Friday's deadline for candidates to qualify, but neither is well-known. One opponent, Mobile school teacher Simone De Moore, will be listed on the ballot by his official name, but the first-time candidate may be better known by the name he uses as a soul singer - Simone De.
The other opponent is Birmingham attorney William G. Barnes, who is also making his first race for public office.
The chairman of the political science department at the University of Alabama, David Lanoue, says it's a suicide mission to run against the popular politician who has a $16 million campaign chest.
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