By WILL WHATLEY, Alabama Daily News
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – As their campaigns wind down, both candidates for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor are touting endorsements from some familiar names in hopes of swaying late-deciding voters.
Public Service Commission President Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh on Sunday was endorsed by Connie Glover, wife of State Senator Rusty Glover who placed third in the Republican primary for lieutenant governor on June 5th. Glover recorded a phone call message meant to be distributed to voters in the campaign’s final days.
“Twinkle is a Christian, lifelong conservative, pro-life Republican, wife, mother, and a dedicated public servant,” said Glover. “Twinkle will fight to strengthen our education system and grow jobs.”
Sen. Glover himself has a policy of not endorsing other candidates, but he has appeared with his wife at Cavanuagh events and sported campaign stickers. the Glovers’ blessing would be most beneficial in the battlegrounds of Mobile and Baldwin Counties, where he received 58 percent and 34 percent of the vote, respectively, in the June 5 primary. Cavanaugh has also recently been endorsed by Mike Huckabee and former south Alabama Congressman Sonny Callahan.
State Rep. Will Ainsworth (R – Guntersville) has received numerous endorsements recently. Businessman and former gubernatorial candidate Tim James, former State Senator and Alabama Republican Party chairman Bill Armistead and former U.S. Attorney Alice Martin have endorsed Ainsworth in the last week, each citing Cavanaugh’s campaign ad attacking Ainsworth’s arrest record the reason they decided to weigh in on the race.
“To say Rep. Ainsworth was criminally charged and ‘didn’t serve a day in jail’ infers he was prosecuted when in fact the charge was dropped!” Martin wrote in a Facebook post.
“It was a college prank now used as a professional smear,” she continued. “This poor judgement doesn’t make his opponent shine to me. Please remember to vote next Tuesday!”
Additionally, 13 of Ainsworth’s colleagues in the Alabama House of Representatives have endorsed his candidacy. Ainsworth also earned endorsements from South Alabama officials that could give him a boost in Mobile and Baldwin Counties.
The runoff is Tuesday, July 17 and the winner will face Democratic nominee Will Boyd.