Seventh district Congressman Artur Davis tells the Selma Times-Journal he's "looking very seriously" at a run for governor in 2010.
The Birmingham Democrat tells the paper he'll likely make an announcement next January. Read the full story
here.
It is no surprise. He has been hinting and folks have been writing about a possible run since he decided not to challenge Republican Senator Jeff Sessions this year.
Davis backers have quietly circulated polling data, offering encouraging match-ups between Davis and likely Republican nominees. The potential and results appeared most notably last month in Tom Baxter's Southern Political Report. The stories, which can be read
here and an addendum
here, show Davis competitive with key Republicans in head-to-head matchups.
The Republicans listed? Two year schools chief Bradley Byrne (who gets an "attaboy" from the Tuscaloosa News editorial
page this week), House Minority Leader Mike Hubbard, '06 Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor Luther Strange (a regular guest on Good Day Alabama and likely candidate for something in 2010) and Attorney General Troy King.
A big question when talking about a Davis candidacy, the current Lieutenant Governor, Jim Folsom Jr. The Cullman Democrat has not indicated whether he will launch a bid for governor, but as always, talk swirls that those closest to him are encouraging it. It could be a "Battle of Titans" in the 2010 Democratic primary if Davis and Folsom make the run.
And this year's presidential campaign will have an impact on decision making.
Consider this: a Barack Obama victory would give Davis the backing of the White House in a bid for governor. That means fundraising, high profile support and influential friends for a candidate who stepped up early and vocally for Obama's candidacy. Even if Obama loses, the organization put in place in Alabama would be attractive for any candidate.
Yes, Obama is unlikely to carry Alabama in November, but it never hurts to have a president's support. See the current White House resident. George W. Bush remains a viable fundraiser, despite dismal approval ratings. Read the USAToday story
here.
Now consider this: a John McCain victory. One of his earliest Alabama supporters was Troy King. What I said about an Obama presidency... goes for a McCain presidency, too.
There is an argument to be made about change, however. This is a "transitional" year in politics, people appear to want a change in direction nationally. If a McCain president did indeed turn into a "third Bush term" as his opponents like to suggest, a historic Davis candidacy could come at the right time in a mid-term election.
There is alot of time to sort out the "what ifs." Potential candidates will be busy wooing donors and potential support later this summer at the conventions in Denver and Minneapolis-St. Paul. Many may choose not to follow a Davis example of announcing in January (if it does indeed happen), instead waiting until June '09, one year from the state primaries (one, for the record, has already announced- Republican Tim James, son of Fob).
But consider this- its a wide open race. The first open seat for governor since Wallace in 1986. That campaign led to the Baxley-Graddick fiasco that elevated a little known Republican, Guy Hunt, to the governor's office and helped end the Democratic strangle-hold on the executive branch in Alabama.
Could Alabama's open seat for governor in 2010 deliver another historic moment?
