Davis didn’t earn the support of the black civil rights political arm in Alabama, they endorsed Sparks. Davis wanted to take his campaign directly to the black and white voters without currying their favor.
Sparks ran an ad criticizing Davis for being the only Democrat to vote against the Obama health care plan.
It’s remarkable that Sparks, the White guy, ran to the left of the Black guy... The media will “dismiss” any racist charges in AL by saying Davis was “too Conservative” for Dem primary voters.