Roy Moore, the ousted chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, says he will seek the governor's office next year. A Republican, Moore is likely to face incumbent Gov. Bob Riley, who will announce his intentions soon. (Psst, he's running.)

This will set up an interesting Republican primary, as the Business Council of Alabama will support Riley, while the Religious Right establishment will go to Moore. It is not unheard of for Alabama voters to right what they believe to be a political injustice by electing the same person to a higher office. In 1986, then U.S. Attorney Jeff Sessions was rejected by the U.S. Senate for a federal judgeship. In 1995, Sessions was elected state attorney general, and two years later, he won a race for the U.S. Senate. He now sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee -- with some of the very senators who voted against his confirmation.

The early line here at BaT -- if no surprise challengers enter the two-man race -- has Riley winning the primary 53 percent to 47 percent, based upon the current governor's response to Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina -- particularly when compared to Kathleen Blanco.