Gov. Kay Ivey enters the general election campaign as the odds-on favorite over Democrat Walt Maddox, political observers said Wednesday. In winning the Republican nomination in Tuesday's primary, Ivey received more votes than all the Democratic candidates combined. "This is still a Republican state," former state Rep. Paul DeMarco (R-Homewood) said. "Come November, there should be substantially more Republicans voting than Democrats, and that will help Kay Ivey." Ivey's primary opponents moved quickly to close ranks. Scott Dawson, appearing on News Radio 105.5 WERC's "Alabama's Morning News," said that during all the candidate forums and debates, not one Republican said Alabama would be better with a Democrat as governor. "We throw our support behind the current governor, Kay Ivey," Dawson said. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and state Sen. Bill Hightower issued similar calls for party unity, while declaring their support for Ivey. Defeated Democratic candidate Sue Bell Cobb endorsed Maddox, who is serving his fourth term as mayor of Tuscaloosa.