A new name has emerged in the increasingly crowded field of candidates seeking the Republican presidential nomination in 2012 -- former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, who is best known for being removed from office due to his defense of a monument to the Ten Commandments in the state courthouse.
Sources close to Moore told Sunshine State News on Monday that Moore was forming a presidential exploratory committee which would be launched in April.
Moore himself has been increasingly focused on national affairs and has served notice that he intends to take aim at Washington.
We can no longer accept the fact that Washington is spending our hard-earned money, noted Moore on Monday. We have to stand up and speak out against the out-of-control debt they are leaving us and our children. The time is now to join a movement that will work for the American people, and not work for the celeb-oticians in Washington.
Moore, a West Point graduate and Vietnam veteran, was elected as chief justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama in 2000, taking 55 percent over the Democratic candidate. Moore served until 2003 when he was removed after disobeying a federal judges ruling that the Ten Commandments monument violated the establishment cause.
While the controversy over the monument made Moore a favorite of religious conservative activists, his two campaigns for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in Alabama were not successful. Moore challenged then-Gov. Bob Riley for the Republican nomination in 2006 but took 35 percent against the incumbents 65 percent. In 2010, Moore came in fourth place in the gubernatorial primary.
While activists in the conservative Constitution Party attempted to recruit Moore to run as their presidential candidate in 2004 and 2008, he declined both times and is looking to enter the 2012 race as a Republican.
Despite his setbacks in Alabama, Moore has remained popular among religious and social conservatives. He has also been busy in Iowa, home of the first presidential caucus. During the 2010 campaign cycle, Moore campaigned in Iowa to remove three members of that states Supreme Court who backed giving marriage rights to same-sex couples. Moore has remained active on civic matters through the Foundation for Moral Law.
Social and religious conservatives running for the Republican presidential nomination have done well in the Iowa caucus in recent years. Pat Robertson took 25 percent of the vote back in 1988, beating out then-Vice President George H.W. Bush for second place. Pat Buchanan took second place in 1996 with 23 percent, right behind eventual nominee Bob Dole. In 2000, conservative favorite Alan Keyes placed third with 14 percent of the vote while Gary Bauer, best known for his work at the Family Research Council, came in fourth with 9 percent. In 2008, former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas won Iowa with more than 34 percent of the vote.
Zachery Michael, a top political aide to Moore, told Sunshine State News on Monday that if his candidate runs, he will focus on a number of issues, including continuing the fight for traditional marriage.
This campaign is going to be based focusing on the problems facing the nation, Michael said. Traditional marriage is under attack.
Michael added that Moore would also focus on other matters, including turning the economy around, repealing the federal health-care law backed by President Barack Obama, installing a measure similar to the flat-tax and fair-tax proposals, and limiting the power of the federal government.
While Michael said that his candidates record defending the Ten Commandments monument would appeal to religious conservatives, he added that Moores battle against the federal government in defense of the Tenth Amendment and against judicial activism would help win over other conservative voters. Michael also pointed to Moores experience in the military and running the state judicial branch, as well as his constitutional scholarship, as proof that the former chief justice was up to the job.
Moore joins an increasingly crowded field of potential candidates.
Fred Karger, a veteran Republican activist and campaign strategist, announced last week that he was officially running. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer and businessman Herman Cain have launched exploratory committees. Other potential candidates include former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, Huckabee, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas and his son U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi, Gov. Mitch Daniels of Indiana, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah, former Gov. Gary Johnson of New Mexico, former Gov. George Pataki of New York, Riley, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and businessman Donald Trump.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
