Moore banking on name recognition in race

FLORENCE - Chances are you remember Roy Moore.

In 2003, Moore engulfed the national stage when, as chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, he ignored a federal judge's order to remove a granite monument of the Ten Commandments from the Alabama Judicial Building. He was subsequently removed from office.

In fact, Moore is banking on his name recognition, saying it will help propel him to the Republican nomination for governor in 2010 rather than pigeonhole him as the religious, conservative candidate, as some political analysts predict.

Speaking to about 100 supportive spectators at the Florence-Lauderdale Coliseum on Monday night, Moore hardly strayed from his much-debated past, invoking a moral appeal to the crowd.

"It is God and God alone who will heal the land," he said to applause, before saying in reference to school prayer later, "You can't acknowledge God where our money goes even though our money is marked 'In God We Trust.' "

Though the primary is not until June, Moore has traveled to seemingly every region of the state in the past few weeks - evidence of a political process creeping forward each year.

He's pleased with the response so far.

"My name recognition is high," he said, labeling himself the frontrunner. "I think it's going to be a blessing, not a bad thing."

The political landscape has changed since he last ran for governor in 2006, however, with the economy tanking and health care assuming an unmatched political fervor. But Moore likened this period to President Ronald Reagan's run to the White House, ushering in more than a decade of conservative dominance on the national political stage.

He hopes history doesn't entirely repeat itself.

In 2006, he garnered 33 percent of the Republican primary vote against Gov. Bob Riley. He said the lack of an incumbent candidate this time around will aid his campaign.

His message certainly resonated with the crowd, as he was forced often to let applause taper before continuing.

Gary Wilkinson, influenced by Moore's Ten Commandments spat, traveled from Hamilton to hear the judge speak.

"That showed me the man is willing to stand up for what he believes," Wilkinson said. "I respect that. I don't think that will hold him back."

And Sharon Wade, of Killen, also found Moore's religious background appealing.

"I feel like our government has gone south," she said, referencing gay marriage, abortion and school prayer. "They are sliding on their convictions."

Moore is now the president of the Foundation for Moral Law in Montgomery. He's penned many briefs on issues regarding religious liberties.

Other Republicans vying for their party's nomination are state Rep. Robert Bentley, R-Tuscaloosa, former two-year college Chancellor Bradley Byrne, state Treasurer Kay Ivey, Greenville entrepreneur Tim James, Bill Johnson, former director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, and Wilton's James Potts Jr.

U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, D-Birmingham, and state Commissioner of Agriculture Ron Sparks are competing for the Democratic nomination.

Brian Hughes can be reached at 740-5720 or brian.hughes@TimesDaily.com.