Posted by A Parlor friend heard U.S. Rep. Artur Davis say last week, “Mark my words. Obama will not lose a state primary.” Strong words though not so different from his quotes in the Tuscaloosa News.
A strong showing by Obama must encourage Davis for his own political future. Besides their many similarities, Davis has been an enthusiastic and early supporter of Obama’s campaign. Would an Obama presidential administration offer a position for Davis that would entice him to leave the House? No telling at this point, and of course there are a lot of miles to be covered before that question could be viable.
Davis and Obama are similar enough and are connected to the point that Obama may embody some of Davis’ own aspirations. Everybody I know that has talked to Davis in recent months has come away believing he is running for governor. If America is ready for Barack Obama as a president, maybe, the thinking could go, maybe Alabama is ready for Artur Davis as a governor.
On the other hand, if the campaign trail ends with Obama in the White House, perhaps Davis would consider staying in the House. He’d have the ear of the President and a rising role in national Democratic leadership. No doubt he would be one of the President’s trusted allies and closest contacts in Congress. As one friend says, “You have to think that relationship would pay off handsomely.”
Rep. Davis (and we) will know more after we see Obama’s showing in Alabama.
Related Articles:
Legislative Dispatch
Purple Dot Connection
2010 Big List
2010 Senate Elections
2010 House Elections
Press Releases
U.S. Attorney General would look could on his resume.
Maybe the state GOP powers can find a reason to indict Davis before 2010.
This strategy has worked well for them in the past.
Davis is very electable in my opinion. I don’t think skin color matters that much anymore. Look at Harold Ford Jr in Memphis. The only reason he lost that US Senate race in ‘06 was because of his familys bad habit of committing felonies.
Oh and look at that state senate district in northeast Mississippi(Iuka and Corinth). Two months ago a black democrat named Eric Powell won that seat despite it being nearly 90% white. Times have changed folks….
You don’t have to go all the way to Mississippi. There are several black Judges currently elected in Jefferson Co., including one who won a Republican Primary in the Bessemer Cutoff.
Davis and Obama have been friends for some time. So a cabinet position in the Obama White House isn’t that far-fetched an idea. I’m even willing to bet that Davis is gearing up for a potential VP run, though I’ve been called insane for speculating as much.
While I think Artur Davis would have significant appeal in a statewide run, race is still a factor in a statewide race. Not to say that race would be the determinig factor, but to assert it is no longer a factor is a bit naive.
I think Davis would do better to use his clout with Obama to help his district. Speaker of the House Davis (given time) also sounds good.
Davis has a lot of opportunities before him right now. Could he get elected governor of Alabama? I think that would be tough because of the Folsoms; I would argue that he’d have a better shot at winning an open seat in the Senate should Shelby retire. I think he’s more electable than Harold Ford Jr. was in Tennessee. Maybe the name recognition and organization is not quite as strong, but he can build those over time. He doesn’t have the same problems as Ford (corrupt family and sleazy white women) and those don’t go away. Or he may be Obama’s number one choice for AG. Imagine Barack and Artur instead of Jack and Bobby. My guess would be that he will be out of the House by 2010 one way or another should Obama win the Democratic nomination. Should Hillary win, he’ll hang around and build towards an eventual shot at becoming the first black Speaker of the House.
anyone that thinks davis can win statewide in alabama has not been paying attention to his votes in congress. he is a liberal – without any debate about it.
I would also say he has a more moderate voting record than Ford did. However, he has been outspoken against gay marriage and has come down on the blue dog side on several other divisive issues. He’d have a decent shot at an open Senate seat. I don’t think he’s any more liberal than Siegelman or Folsom.
What’s wrong with being a liberal?