Ala. Races Nasty at Finish: Runoff Opponents Slam Each Other as Final Weekend Approaches

Roll Call ^ | June 20, 2002 | Lauren W. Whittington

[xsysmgr]

In a flurry of last-minute negative advertising, candidates in two closely watched Alabama runoffs have taken to the airwaves to harshly criticize their opponents with less than a week to go in the campaigns.

Three runoff elections are slated to take place in Alabama on Tuesday, after two Senate challengers and candidates in a pair of House races failed to garner at least 50 percent of the vote in June 4 primaries.

The high-profile 7th district runoff race between Rep. Earl Hilliard (D-Ala.) and attorney Artur Davis (D) continues to grow nastier as the campaign heads into the final weekend.

Davis' campaign is set to begin running two ads today attacking Hilliard's record in Congress and highlighting what they say is his failure to introduce any meaningful legislation during his 10 years in Washington.

One of the ads, titled "Rabbits," tells viewers that Hilliard has been paid "$1.3 million and counting" over the past 10 years to represent them in Washington, and in that period of time he has not introduced any bills related to education, health care, economic development or civil-rights issues. However, according to the ad, Hilliard did sponsor legislation "regulating endangered rabbits."

The announcer ends the spot by saying, "Send Earl Hilliard back to Washington? Why?"

Davis campaign manager Corey Ealons said the ads are part of an effort to turn out voters who supported another candidate in the three-way primary. The ads were produced by Black Blue Media Communications, based in Philadelphia.

"We have to give them a reason to come back out," Ealons said. "We have to make a case, and the case is the current Congressman hasn't done what he needs to do to properly represent the district. ... At the end of the day, it really is that simple."

Hilliard, meanwhile, began airing an ad last week highlighting Davis' campaign financing and accusing his opponent of selling out to out-of-state interests and contributors.

"Are you for sale?" an announcer asks at the beginning of the spot. "Artur Davis thinks so."

The ad, paid for by Hilliard's campaign committee, goes on to chronicle the fact that Davis has gotten checks from donors in New York, New Jersey and California. He has also received "money from Republicans who support George Bush," the ad says.

The commercial features a businessman, who morphs into Davis, burning money with a cigar. The ad concludes that a vote for Davis is "an auction" and ends with an auctioneer yelling "SOLD!"

An analysis of contributions to both candidates through June 5, as reported by the Birmingham News, shows that both candidates have received a majority of their contributions from sources outside Alabama. According to that analysis, 86.6 percent of Hilliard's donations have been from out-of-state sources, while 77.4 percent of Davis' money has come from outside the state.

"About 87 percent of the money that I received came from political action committees, like teachers unions. About 92 percent of my opponent's money came from individuals," Hilliard told the newspaper in defense his high percentage of out-of-state money. "And that's the main distinction, because when you vote generally for unions or vote for organizations, it's an issue vote. But when you take money from individuals, then that is an acceptance of their views more than less."

Hilliard's office did not return a call for comment.

Davis began airing another ad on Monday in the Birmingham market, criticizing Hilliard's negative attacks and accusing the incumbent of "lying about" Davis. In the week before the primary, Hilliard accused Davis of being fired from a job because of a date-rape allegation. Both Davis and his former employer denied the charge.

"When Earl fights for Earl, we all lose," Davis tells viewers in the spot called "Shame," which is slated to stop airing today.

The Hilliard-Davis race has gained national attention and money in recent months because of the role the conflict in the Middle East has played in this rural Alabama district race.

After Hilliard voted against a resolution condemning Palestinian suicide bombings earlier this year, pro-Israel groups have rallied behind Davis. Hilliard, meanwhile, has gotten considerable support from Arab interest groups in addition to backing from the House Democratic leadership and members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Meanwhile, things are also heating up on the airwaves this week in the state's 1st district, where two former Hill staffers are facing off in next week's vote.

Jo Bonner (R) began airing a television ad in the Mobile area this week narrated by his former boss and the man he hopes to succeed, Rep. Sonny Callahan (R), who is retiring this year.

In the spot, Callahan criticizes Bonner's opponent, Tom Young (R), for having "just moved back" to the district. Young is the former chief of staff to Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.). The ad came in response to a commercial Young began airing last week attacking Bonner's positions on the issues. That ad has since been taken down.

"I'm disappointed that Tom Young would attack Jo Bonner. Maybe it's because Tom Young just moved back here and doesn't understand the people of south Alabama," Callahan says in the commercial that began airing Saturday. "It's not right, it's not proper, and it's not how we do things down here."

The ad featuring Callahan is scheduled to fade out today, when a new ad featuring Bonner is scheduled to go up on local airwaves. It will run through the runoff. The spots were produced by The Strategy Group for Media.

Young began airing another ad Monday outlining the differences between him and Bonner. "Unlike Jo, I was born and raised right here in Mobile," Young says in the new spot.

In the Senate runoff, Democrats Susan parker and Julian McPhillips are competing for the right to face first-term Sen. Jeff Sessions (R).

[Enterprise]

Good 'ol slamma jamma in 'Bama.

[Alabama_Wild_Man]

I was born-n-raised in George Wallace Country.

Lived there until '92...

Politics of this type is considered 'Art-Of-The-State' in most circles...
The more the candidates bash away - the less that any (potential) voter listens to them.

Sort of like cryin' Wolf - for all of the wrong reasons !