Bingo dominates talk of AG runoff

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Two lawyers are campaigning for the Democratic Party nomination for attorney general in the July 13 runoff, with the fight over electronic bingo one of the toughest issues the next attorney general will face.

Birmingham attorney Giles Perkins went to Greene County and stood outside the gates to Greenetrack as state troopers prepared to seize hundreds of electronic bingo machines. The governor's task force on gambling considers them illegal slot machines.

Perkins' opponent in the runoff, Montgomery attorney James Anderson, was campaigning in Birmingham and said it's ironic that Perkins showed up at the casino when he has criticized Anderson for not signing a pledge to refuse campaign donations from gambling interests.

Anderson and Perkins both say there should be a statewide vote to determine if Alabama voters want electronic bingo to be legal.