Can Artur Davis remake the state?

By By Bob Martin, The Alabama Scene
Congressman Artur Davis believes he can follow in the footsteps of Barrack Obama's successful quest for President and become the first African-American governor of Alabama. To accomplish that he will have to dramatically remake the state's political landscape.
The congressman from Birmingham and areas south and west, who was born and raised in Montgomery, has become the main topic of early conversation in the speculation about potential gubernatorial candidates for the 2010 election, overshadowing some of the state's top political names. But the main question, the one about race, while it may be his biggest strength also remains his largest weakness. This is mainly because President-Elect Obama, while polling 43 percent of the white vote nationally, only received ten percent in Alabama.
The race would also pit Davis against some of the biggest names among state democrats, who are also potential candidates. Those include Jim Folsom, the lieutenant governor who also served as governor, the state's commissioner of agriculture, Ron Sparks, and the speaker of the House of Representatives, Seth Hammett.
There are other stumbling blocks Rep. Davis would find along the way. A Davis candidacy in the 2010 Democratic Primary would likely turn divisive for state democrats, pitting white against black and something the state party could not afford to happen. Some white democratic leaders, citing the small white vote for Obama in the state, have already told Davis they could not support his candidacy in the primary and have strongly urged him to stay in Congress where they believe he could do the state and the party more good. They believe a Davis primary victory would virtually return the governorship to the hands of whoever the GOP nominates and be a disaster for other democratic candidates, at both the state and local levels.
There are plenty of potential Republican candidates out there wishing for a chance to get that shot at Davis. They include, among others, State Treasurer Kay Ivey, two-year college Chancellor, Bradley Byrne, State Party Chair Mike Hubbard, Attorney General Troy King, Congressman Jo Bonner, Birmingham lawyer Luther Strange who many believe has a more serious eye on being attorney general, and Tim James, the son of former Gov. Fob James.
With the democratic vote, depending on the election, ranging anywhere between 35-39 percent in the state, and the African-American percentage ranging between 15 and 18 percent of that vote, Davis would certainly be a contender on the primary ballot.
Perhaps the tipping point for a white Democratic candidate in a primary runoff with Davis, would be the fact that there will be a slew of white local democrats on the ballot which will also turn out a larger-than-normal white vote.
If Davis does seek the governorship, I believe we will see a white candidate recruited to run for every down-ballot position in the Democratic Primary election.
Alabama hospitals hurting financially
A recent survey shows that a majority of Alabama's hospitals are ailing from a combination of declining patients, more indigent care and higher interest rates, according to a survey taken by the Alabama Hospital Association.
New Medicare cost reports show that 61 of the 106 hospitals in Alabama lost money in Fiscal year 2007. The Hospital Association spokeswoman, Rosemary Blackmon, said the study confirmed what hospital executives had been hearing for months. "Unfortunately, we found what we thought we would find, which is that hospitals are experiencing some difficult times financially," Blackmon recently told The Huntsville Times.
Seventy-six percent of hospital chief executives who answered the survey said the widening economic crisis has forced them to make staff reductions.
Nearly one-third said they had ordered cutbacks in services or put hospital buildings or equipment up for sale.
The survey covered 84 of Alabama's 106 hospitals – privately owned and public nonprofits in cities of all sizes.
May this be a more successful New Year for all.
Bob Martin is editor and publisher of The Montgomery Independent. E-mail him at: bob@montgomeryindependent.com