This angle is just one example of an increasingly popular campaign strategy for Democrats and Republics alike, particularly those running in local elections, wherein candidates aim to distance themselves from "Washington" and align themselves with the "regular folks" of their home state. It doesn't matter the voter's affiliation-- whether they're turned off by the Clintonian debauchery of the 90s or Bush and Cheney's corporate allegiance of the 00s--"Washington" is turning Americans off. For Figures, running against well-established incumbent Sessions, the fact that her opponent is so entrenched in politics might be an advantage if she can leverage her own image properly.

President George W. Bush's 2004 reelection in the face of fierce opposition and record-breaking democratic voter recruitment proves just how strong voter inertia can be-- it takes a huge haul to unseat an incumbent. Bare-bones issues are rarely enough to bring in winning votes. In today's homogeneous political environment, voters aren't just looking for candidates to distinguish themselves from their direct opponents, they're also looking for a candidate that stands out from the political pack as a whole-- someone with fresh ideas and a new spin on the classic Washington identity. The only way to communicate individuality to the masses is through agressive advertising and branding-- and that takes large-scale wealth. In Alabama 2008, money might not be everything, but it might well be the deal-breaker.