The possibility now exists that Alabama, the home of the late Governor George Wallace, who exploited the race issue in the 1960s, and the state with the worst race record in the era of civil rights next to Mississippi, may be on the verge of electing the first African American governor in its history, Congressman Artur Davis of Birmingham.
Artur Davis has been a member of the House for seven years, and has made quite an impression as being a man of intellectual brilliance and careful thought, who has done a great job representing his district. He is a Democrat in a state now very red or Republican, so the idea that he can be elected in 2010 to be the state’s governor seems a daunting task.
He will need to win 38 percent of the white vote, which may be a tall order, but many in Alabama and nationally think he can do it, even though Barack Obama won a miniscule percentage of the white vote in that state, which was won easily by John McCain in 2008.
In any case, even the idea of the possibility of Davis winning, and even his willingness to give up his House seat to seek the governorship, will make Alabama the center of electoral attention in 2010.