Riley takes easy victory in GOP primary

By Staff
U.S. Rep. Bob Riley took his Republican opponents to the woodshed Tuesday night, coming out the GOP's nominee for governor and avoiding a runoff.
Riley won the nomination with some 73 percent of the statewide vote. Lt. Gov. Steve Windom came in second with 18 percent of the statewide vote. Tim James, son of former governor Fob James, received 8 percent.
In Morgan County, Riley received 6,436 votes, or 74 percent. Windom received 1,438 votes, or 17 percent, of the votes. James received 821 votes, or 9 percent.
Riley will face Democratic nominee and incumbent governor Don Siegelman, who handily defeated challenger Charles Bishop. Siegelman received 73 percent of the statewide vote to Bishop's 21 percent.
In Morgan County, Siegelman receive 7,158 votes, or 76 percent to Bishop's 1,600 votes, or 17 percent.
The primary results mean two political heavyweights will be battling for the state's top job and neither will have to spend money fighting off an opponent in the primary runoff.
Siegelman and Riley will meet in the Nov. 5 general election.
In the race for Lt. Governor, Columbiana Senator Bill Armistead handily defeated Birmingham resident Lucy Bahakel.
Armistead received 81 percent of the statewide vote to Bahakel's 19 percent. In Morgan County, Armistead netted 6,498 votes, or 83 percent, to Bahakel's 1,364 votes, or 17 percent. Armistead will face Democrat Lucy Baxley in the general election.
Baxley, who is the current state treasurer, had no opposition in the primary.