March to Montgomery: 2010

It's time to Break It Down!

There was a Gubernatorial Primary in the State of Alabama yesterday. For years Charles Barkley, at one time affectionately dubbed The Round Mound of Rebound, toyed with the idea of returning to his native Alabama, and running for Governor in 2014. For most of that time he emphasized his affiliation with the Republican Party. In 2007, Barkley bought a home in Alabama, at least in part to comply with the state’s 7-year residency requirement to run for Governor.

Barkley eventually adjusted his sights, and changed his registration to Independent, while still maintaining that he would run for the state’s highest office in 2014. However, in the last 6 months, Sir Charles, another of his monikers, has begun distancing himself from the idea.

Hark; there is a new player in the game. He does not boast Barkley’s court presence, at least not of the hardwood variety, or Charles’ propensity for outlandish verbal and physical jousting. Yet, Representative Arthur Davis, from Alabama’s 7th Congressional District, is someone you should know. He may be better suited for the rigors of political sport than fellow Alabama native, Barkley. Davis, a double Harvard grad, both undergraduate, magna cum laude, and Law School, cum laude, has served as a U.S. Congressman from “The Heart of Dixie,” since 2003.

Congressman Davis received the Best Oralist Award, and participated in the Ames Moot Court Competition, while matriculating at Harvard. One of his classmates while at Harvard Law was a not so well-known Hawaii native with an unusual name, Barack Hussein Obama. Davis was the first Congressman outside the state of Illinois to openly support Mr. Obama for President, in 2007.

While the Congressman shares elements of educational and political heritage, with President Obama, he does not march in lockstep, blindly with POTUS. In a notable break with the President, Davis voted against the Health Care Reform bill. His independent streak is on full display at home in Alabama as well. He has eschewed seeking the endorsement of the civil rights establishment, opting instead to cobble together a widespread, but likely fragile coalition, somewhat akin to the formula President Obama fashioned into a successful blueprint during his 2008 run to the White House.

In other words, in a state where nearly 50% of Democratic voters are African American, Mr. Davis chose not to cast himself as the black candidate. Conceptually, the idea is interesting. Moreover, the 2008 national election results seemed to validate the strategy as one that “can work.” Of course, one of the things that will become clear over time, is not every candidate is Barack Obama. In Alabama the wisdom of this theory is being tested severely.

A number of black organizations, and the civil rights establishment reasoned Davis neither sought nor earned their support. Subsequently, they chose, in large numbers, to support one of his rivals, state Agriculture Commissioner, Ron Sparks. One sentiment expressed within the civil rights community regarding Mr. Davis’ strategy was that he tried too hard to distance himself from persons, groups, and institutions that serve as his logical and traditional base. Conversely, Mr. Davis argued that his focus is rightly riveted upon devising plans and policies to fix a moribund economy, including eliminating sales taxes on groceries, forcing out-of-state companies to pay property taxes, and re-writing the state’s constitution (which has been in place since 1901).

One thing that can be said about this race is, deep in the “Heart of Dixie,” they struck a blow for post-racialism, but in a very pragmatic way. Congressman Davis and Commissioner Sparks both made their own calculated gamble. The GOP has won Alabama’s Governorship in the past 6 elections, and they are favored to do so again.

Mr. Sparks knew that should he win the Democratic Primary, in order to run and win in November, he would need the support of the civil rights establishment, and the votes of Alabama’s black electorate. Conversely, Mr. Davis understood that should he somehow advance through the Primary, he would need to attract significant support and a sizable number of votes from the state’s white voters. If Alabama voters retreat to their customary voting patterns, Democrats will certainly not execute a “March to Montgomery: 2010.” Instead, Republicans will make it 7 in a row in the Governor’s race.

The results are in; Mr. Sparks won. The odds were stacked heavily against Mr. Davis. What was projected by many to be a tight race was a virtual landslide; 58%-35%. This is just the beginning of the dance, of course. November and the general election await. But in the interim, the nuanced negotiating and navigating will ensue. Democrats statewide must now move to coalesce and support Mr. Sparks in a unified and enthusiastic manner. To do less will assure that it will be the GOP that fashions a “March to Montgomery: 2010!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com. A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Barkley

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artur_Davis

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/29/AR2010052902286.html

http://www.whorunsgov.com/Profiles/Artur_Davis

http://arturdavis.house.gov/

http://www.arturdavis2010.com/

http://www.contactingthecongress.org/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=AL07&site=ctc

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/04/rep_artur_davis_campaigns_for.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/31/artur-davis-may-become-fi_n_595279.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/01/us/01alabama.html?src=me

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20006464-503544.html

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/05/30/Politics-2010-Davis-hopes-to-make-history-in-Alabamas-gubernatorial-race/UPI-65371275211800/

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2010/06/black-governor-alabama-/1

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100602/ap_on_el_gu/us_alabama_governor