Posted on 06/25/2002 11:47:51 PM PDT by JohnHuang2
IRMINGHAM, Ala., June 26 — Representative Earl F. Hilliard, a five-term incumbent, was ousted today in a Democratic runoff after a nasty campaign against a well-funded challenger who swamped the poor district here with commercials questioning Mr. Hilliard's stance on the Middle East.
The upset victory by Artur Davis, a Harvard-educated lawyer, was tantamount to election because there is no Republican nominee.
With 77 percent of precincts reporting, Mr. Davis had 40,549 votes, or 56 percent, and Mr. Hilliard had 31,792 votes, or 44 percent.
Mr. Hilliard, who supports what he calls a balanced Mideast policy by the United States, drew support from Arab groups while his opponent had the backing of Jews and pro-Israel groups. Both men are black.
In South Carolina's Republican primary, a wealthy former congressman, Mark Sanford, easily defeated Lt. Gov. Bob Peeler, the party favorite, to win the nomination to take on Gov. Jim Hodges this fall.
With all precincts reporting, Mr. Sanford had 181,984 votes, or 60 percent, and Mr. Peeler had 121,535, or 40 percent.
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