Dean Young has made it clear that he will not be voting for his Republican rival, Bradley Byrne, in the upcoming general election to fill Alabama first congressional district seat. Over the weekend, it became apparent that at least some individuals in Young’s Tea Party base feel the same way.
“Boycott Byrne” signs appeared along the causeway in Mobile late last week featuring the Gadsden flag snake and “Don’t Tread on Me” phrase that have become so identifiable with the Tea Party movement. Anonymous robocalls have also gone out across the district encouraging Dean Young supporters to throw their support behind Democrat Burton LeFlore, rather than joining ranks with fellow Republicans who are backing Byrne.
LeFlore told Yellowhammer Sunday evening that he’s aware some Tea Partiers’ are planning to vote for him, but that efforts to woo them over have not originated within his campaign.
“I did hear that some people — either Young supporters or Tea Party Republicans — are actually saying they’re going to vote for me,” LeFlore said. “I haven’t had anything to do with any of that. If it’s happening, it’s not coming out of my campaign.”
LeFlore did say, however, that he welcomes the support of the Tea Partiers, many of whom he believes are “disillusioned with their own party.”
“I welcome all votes. I don’t care who they are, including Tea Partiers. We welcome them all,” LeFlore said. “I want to be a diplomat. I’d be willing to sit down with Dean Young and hear what he has to say. And if some of his supporters are interested in supporting me, come on out to the polls.”
A cursory glance at the Dean Young campaign’s Facebook page revealed further evidence of disgruntled Young supporters refusing to support Byrne amid claims that Democrats swung the election in his favor. Alabama has open primaries, so voters are not required to register with a single party. That allows Democrats in heavily Republican districts to crossover and vote in the Republican primary and vice versa.
In spite of their very public frustration, the remnants of the Young campaign say they have nothing to do with the anti-Byrne efforts.
“Any attempt to link us to that is stupid,” Dean Young’s campaign manager Jon Gray told Yellowhammer.
Gray said that Young has no plans to vote for Democrat in this election or any other. But he did point out just how personal the race got after a Byrne campaign ad alleged that Young had enriched himself by taking advantage of “good Christian people” through a PAC he started.
“If you have damaged or stolen this sign, you are dishonest like Bradley Byrne,” the small text reads at the bottom of the “Boycott Byrne” signs.
Follow Cliff on Twitter @Cliff_Sims
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