Davis said Folsom on ticket gives him a boost

U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, the Democrat who is running for governor in 2010, told the Montgomery Advertiser on Monday that Jim Folsom Jr. deciding to run for reelection as lieutenant governor helped the congressman's gubernatorial bid in several ways.
Davis, a Montgomery native, said Folsom has high name identification and good will toward him. He also said that if he had beat Folsom in a primary for governor, the popular lieutenant governor would be no where on the ticket.
He said he feels he would be in a stronger position with Folsom in the second slot on the Democratic side of the ticket.
"A ticket with Folsom in the second spot is helpful to me," Davis said.
The Birmingham congressman said he is not taking the Democratic vote, including the black vote, for granted.
Several political observers told the Montgomery Advertiser for a Sunday story that they see Davis as the Democratic frontrunner. Davis and some of those experts said they see two-year college system chancellor and former state Sen. Bradley Byrne as the Republican frontrunner. Byrne has not announced his candidacy, but many expect him to make that announcement in the coming weeks.
Davis said a year and a half of polling shows he can win. He said he has been ahead of, tied with or within the margin of error of other candidates in nine polls.
When asked about Democratic players looking for another candidate after Folsom said he was not running for governor, Davis said "they know we've done well in the polls." He said some of the people are concerned he would be a more independent governor who might not give the same preferential treatment to Democratic power players if he was elected.
Democratic Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks has announced he is running for governor. Greenville businessman Tim James is the only Republican who has formally announced he is running.

-- posted by Sebastian Kitchen