Smarmy Pete Thamel on Tuberville senate bid.

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In football parlance, Tuberville’s first political campaign is operating on a “punt to win” mantra, as he’s avoided debate, shown little expertise on issues and generally avoided any exposure that would have him expound on issues in a public forum. His Republican candidacy has drafted off the popularity of President Trump in Alabama, putting him comfortably ahead in the polling heading into Tuesday’s election.

With the political direction of the United States Senate in flux, a race between a football coach who has never held public office and an incumbent, Doug Jones, with a nationally recognized name would be the kind of local race that emerges as national fodder. Especially with the possibility that Tuberville’s potential election could swing the Senate to the Republicans.

Instead, Tuberville is such a comfortable favorite – 13 points in the latest polls – that the race has little national resonance. What if Jones were to pull the upset? “It would be like Troy beating LSU,” said David Mowery, chairman of the Alabama-based Mowery Consulting Group, referencing an upset from the 2017 college football season.

Pick your football cliché. Tuberville is running between the tackles, draining the play clock and moving chains in a way that would warm the heart of any former defensive coach. It’s hard to argue from a strategy perspective. John Couvillon, a Louisiana-based pollster and political consultant, gives him a 90 percent chance of winning on Tuesday. In other words, Tuberville is ready to put his campaign in victory formation.

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