What a day Saturday was! It was absolutely gorgeous outside, and very comfortable for a mid-July day in Alabama. The day stated with the Tuscaloosa County Democrats Family Fun Picnic at Snow Hinton Park. This was an ideal event for me to bring Christy and the kids.

When we arrived, there was a solid crowd of ~100 loyal Democrats. Ryland, of course, was immediately drawn to the inflatable jumper and the numerous footballs and kick balls that other kids were playing with. Finn was a champ and slept through the entire event. Christy and I had the opportunity to talk individually with local Democratic activists, as well as other candidates.

After having a classic picnic lunch, I had the opportunity to share the message of our campaign  with the crowd. Regardless of party affiliation, our incumbant, Republican Treasurer is not a popular figure in Tuscaloosa or many parts of Alabama, due to the economic state of affairs within Alabama or her bungling of 48,000 college savings plans. So, the picnic’s attendees voiced sound approval for our message of restoring honesty, integrity and competency to the office of the Treasurer.

The Tuscaloosa County Democrats Family Fun Day was certainly a nice way to start off the day, and everyone – especially Ryland – enjoyed the food, fun and fellowship.

After leaving Tuscaloosa, we were off to Aloft Hotel in Homewood for the 2010 Campaign Kickoff Reception hosted by Democracy for America . Christy and the kids enjoyed time strolling through downtown Homewood and getting dinner, while I rubbed shoulders and shook hands with the attendees at the kickoff reception. The candidates and party activists were in full attendance for this event, with both Democratic gubernatorial candidates present, multiple congressional candidates, along with score of media staff in tow.

People routinely ask me how the campaign is going, and I tell them that when you walk into a room and people who you don’t know introduce themselves to you, and they know who you are before you introduce yourselves to them, you must be doing something right. Well, I certainly encountered that at the DFA receptions – as well as earlier in Tuscaloosa.

Again, I had the opportunity to address the attendees, and I found the same level of discontent with our present Treasury administration. The lack of honesty, integrity and competency are gross deficiencies within our present Treasurer’s office, and I believe that Democrats and Republicans alike desperately want a Treasurer that embodies and exudes this qualities. And, I believe that over the next 16 months, we are going to prove to Democrats and Republicans alike that I am the Treasurer that Alabama needs to solve the problems created over the last eight years by our incumbent Treasurer, and I am the candidate that can move our state forward, towards a more prosperous, secure future.