Ten Commandments Influence Ala. Primary

[newyawker99]

By KYLE WINGFIELD
The Associated Press
Wednesday, June 2, 2004; 12:36 AM


MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Alabama's Republican primary Tuesday turned into a referendum on Roy Moore's Ten Commandments stand, with three of four supporters of the ousted chief justice losing or trailing in their bids for party nominations.

In an election with little else at stake, observers said the outcome of those four races could indicate if Moore's fight to acknowledge God in public buildings has political staying power - or if the GOP's business wing can fend off the religious right.

Three Moore supporters sought GOP nominations for Supreme Court seats, and the only one challenging an incumbent held a narrow lead late Tuesday.

Former Moore aide Tom Parker had 103,871 votes, or 51 percent, compared to 101,205 votes, or 49 percent, for Associate Justice Jean Brown, with 93 percent of precincts reporting.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8415-2004Jun2.html