Parker Griffith in 2014 Alabama Governor's race

On Principles & Values: 20-foot inflatable duck: Bentley is "ducking" the debates

Griffith's camp accused Bentley of bad faith negotiating and fear of an open discussion of the issues. The Democratic nominee has been pushing the debate issue hard in recent weeks. Late last month, Griffith made stops around the state with a 20-foot high duck--symbolic, he said, of the governor "ducking" a forensic contest with him. The inflatable waterfowl sparked high-level discussions between the campaigns. But the camps disagreed over what sunk the debate.

Bentley had expressed a willingness to debate Griffith after his primary victory on June 3. In his statement Monday, the governor said "my opponent's actions prove he has no interest in such civil political discourse." A spokesperson noted, "What's different is our opponent is carrying an inflatable duck around the state."

On Education: Statewide lottery to fund Alabama schools

In 1999, Alabama voters rejected a lottery to pay for scholarships, pre-kindergarten and school technology. Griffith believes that voters would support a lottery now, and already buy lottery tickets in Tennessee, Georgia and Florida that fund education in those states. "We want them to stay here," Griffith said. "I think people understand that gaming is happening all around Alabama." Griffith said that pre-kindergarten would be one of the recipients of funding from his new education lottery.

Bentley said he does not think a lottery is the best way to fund government & that he would oppose earmarking such funds for specific purposes. He also said, "I have never been opposed to allowing people to vote on anything, and that includes a lottery."

On Education: AdWatch: New statewide vote on school-funding lottery

The 30-second spot repeats what has become a standard refrain from the Griffith campaign, namely that the only thing standing between Alabama and a brighter future is Republican Gov. Robert Bentley.

Griffith is hoping that his support for a lottery does for his campaign what it did for former Gov. Don Siegelman in 1998 when then Lt. Gov. Siegelman defeated Republican Gov. Fob James. Democrat Siegelman campaigned promising that if elected he would push for a vote on a lottery to support schools.

Siegelman won and the Legislature, then in the hands of Democrats, approved a vote for a lottery. The public overwhelmingly rejected it in 1999.