Davis sets sights on governor's race in '10

Montgomery - U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, D-Ala., will seek reelection to Congress in 2008, but he has his political sights set on a statewide office in 2010.

Davis said Monday his focus is seeking a fourth congressional term. But as a rising star in Congress, he has been encouraged to look beyond Washington.

"I'm taking a very hard look at governor in 2010," Davis said.

"We've received an enormous amount of encouragement to look at that race, and I will certainly not make a decision until the first quarter of 2009, but I certainly have been very encouraged at the response I've received."

Davis isn't lacking for money to run for Congress and since he's in his third term, probably won't have serious opposition in 2008, as most established incumbents don't.

That would free up funds for a 2010 governor's race. There will be no incumbent governor because the law prohibits Riley from seeing a third term in 2010.

Davis has raised more than Alabama's other members of the House this election cycle.

As of Sept. 30, he had nearly $700,000 in his campaign treasury. Other congressmen's tallies ranged from $247,393 to $531,665.

The Senate race in 2010 is another statewide office that Davis said he is keeping his eye on should Republican Sen. Richard Shelby decide to retire, though Shelby is giving every intention of seeking re-election.

Davis said he knows that some whites and blacks wouldn't vote for him as a statewide candidate because he's black. But he said he's encouraged by October's election of U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal, R-La., the son of Indian immigrants, as Louisiana governor.

Bill Stewart, a University of Alabama political science professor, said it may not be the color of Davis's skin that makes him unpopular, but the trend in Alabama to elect conservative Republicans to statewide office.

"I don't think people in Alabama are so prejudiced that they say, 'I don't want an African American,' but they don't want a moderate liberal," said Stewart, adding, "White liberals aren't doing so well either."

Davis said that may change by what he calls a growing disenchantment with GOP politics.

He said since there won't be an incumbent governor in 2010, and with the state basically evenly divided politically, half of the remaining undecided independent voters plus one is all a nominee would need to win.

"If you have an open seat governor in 2010 or if, for that matter, an open seat in the Senate in 2010, this state is even," Davis said. "If you have a set of values and communicate them well, I think there will be people who look beyond race."

Dana Beyerle can be reached at (334) 264-6605.