The most interesting aspect of the race is, indeed, race. Both candidates are black.
According to the Wall Street Journal today (link requires subscription):
Nearly one-third of the House black caucus, including Mr. Hilliard, didn't support a recent resolution backing Israel and condemning Palestinian suicide bombings. The measure otherwise drew overwhelming support in the House.
"There is growing concern about anti-Israel votes and statements coming from some members of the black caucus," says Morris Amitay, a Washington lawyer and former president of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. One prominent caucus member, Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D., Ga.), also made recent headlines by sending a letter to a Saudi prince that said she agreed with his call for a reassessment of the U.S. role in the Mideast.
That concern has resulted in limited political action, and most black caucus members are all but unassailable politically within their districts. But Mr. Hilliard, who already has been weakened by allegations of ethical improprieties and faces a credible African-American challenger, is an exception whom some national backers of Israel decided to target.
Who is the mover and shaker behind the Jewish support of Davis? Donald Hess, a local Birmingham businessman and Jewish activist, who used to support Rep. Hilliard. Hess took Davis to the most recent AIPAC convention in DC and they made the rounds of the influential and wealthy.
"The effort paid immediate dividends. Patsy Berman, a Florida retiree, met Mr. Davis at the AIPAC meeting and was so impressed with his comments on the Middle East and domestic issues she wrote him a check immediately."
Hess also spurred Davis to make a fund-raising visit to New York.
"The results of the trip are plain from recently filed Federal Election Commission reports. Mr. Davis raised $360,636 from April 1 to May 20, three times what the incumbent raised in the same period. And 75% of the donations came from the New York City area. Most of the donors came to know Mr. Davis at one of eight New York City fund-raisers, arranged over two days last month by AIPAC members who first met Mr. Davis only the week before at the convention."
That money will pay for Mr. Davis's television-ad campaign, including one spot placing Mr. Hilliard's sanctions bill at odds with rescue efforts following Sept. 11. Rep. Hilliard is fighting back on the radio, but says he can't afford TV ads.
It is unusual for any House challenger to out-raise an incumbent. In Alabama, Mr. Davis's cash infusion is allowing him to dominate the media battle in the campaign's closing days, fueling his hopes for an upset.
It won't be easy. A former state legislator, Mr. Hilliard has commanded intense loyalty from black voters since the district was created as a majority black district in 1992 to conform with the Civil Rights Act. In addition, he has had the backing of some members of the congressional black caucus, including John Lewis, the Democratic congressman and civil-rights icon from Georgia, who has prepared taped messages for use by the Hilliard campaign.
Anti-Israeli groups have tried to mobilize in support of Hilliard and have set up a website proclaiming: "Don't Let AIPAC Snuff Out Another Principled Voice." They have mostly made not-so-oblique references to "Jewish money."
It ain't pretty.
"A flier that circulated during the campaign bore the headline: "Davis and the Jews no good for the Black Belt." Both candidates' campaigns said they had nothing to do with the flier."
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