Ala. 03: Republicans Pickup Seat with Riley

(AllPolitics, Nov. 5) -- Republican Bob Riley claimed Alabama's open 3rd District seat for his party by defeating Democrat Ted Little in a race regarded as a microcosm of national trends.

Riley, an energetic businessman, enjoyed the visible party backing of House Speaker Gingrich and former Vice President Dan Quayle, and tried to portray Little as "too liberal for Alabama." Riley embraced the GOP party line on the budget and Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole's proposed tax cut.

Little, a state senator and trial lawyer, campaigned on voter worries about economic security in a district facing a base closing, and attacked GOP budget plans as bad for the future of education.

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