Posted on June 1, 2010

Obama Friend Seeks to Be Alabama’s First Black Governor

Julie Bennett, USA Today, June 1, 2010

The Barack Obama effect gets an interesting test today in Alabama, where U.S. Rep. Artur Davis seeks to take a big step to becoming the state’s first African-American governor.

Davis, a friend of Obama and a fellow Harvard Law School graduate, faces a tough Democratic primary today against Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks, who is white.

{snip}

Whoever wins the Democratic governor’s race in Alabama faces another tough battle in November against the winner of the Republican primary in the state that John McCain carried easily two years ago.

{snip} Indeed, Davis was the only member of the Congressional Black Caucus to vote against Obama’s health care plan.

Also, some Alabama civil rights organizations have endorsed Sparks in today’s primary.