Luther Strange

Recently Luther and Democrat Artur Davis debated at Birmingham-Southern College in what could be a precursor to the 2010 Governor's race. Below is the story from the Birmingham News.

Both mulling run for governor in'10
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
CHARLES J. DEAN
News staff writer

Artur Davis, Luther Strange, both potential candidates in the 2010 race for Alabama governor, meet in debate

Proving there is no such thing in politics as too early, two potential candidates in the 2010 race for Alabama governor squared off Tuesday in a debate representing the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates.

But the debate between Rep. Artur Davis, D-Birmingham, and lobbyist and Republican Luther Strange of Mountain Brook could preview their own showdown in 27 months for the state's highest office.

The two pols were at Birmingham-Southern College at the invitation of longtime BSC political science professor Natalie Davis to debate in front of one of her classes the strengths and weaknesses of presumptive Democratic Party presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama and presumptive Republican Party nominee Sen. John McCain.

While Davis and Strange took turns setting forth who would be the better president, many in the audience of about 100, which included staff and faculty, had an opportunity to size up the gubernatorial qualities of Davis and Strange.

Natalie Davis acknowledged as much when she introduced the two men, telling the crowd, "You being here today says something about your interest in the presidential race and maybe the 2010 race, who knows? If you're thinking forward to 2010, this may be a rehearsal."

Artur Davis has made no secret that he is seriously considering what would be a historic run for governor, since Davis is black and no black person in modern Alabama history has run for the state's highest office.

Asked by a student if he were going to run for governor, Davis said he is considering it and would announce his decision in six to seven months.

Strange, who ran for lieutenant governor two years ago and lost the bid by 1 percentage point to Jim Folsom, was asked the same question.

"I'm going to be on the ballot in 2010, but what office, I can't say," Strange said.

Strange said later that he was mulling over a run for governor but was also considering another run at lieutenant governor or attorney general.

Strange, who stands 6 feet 9 - a full foot taller than Davis - loomed over the Birmingham Democrat as they debated, causing Davis to joke that he needed a riser.

While both men said they like each other, it also became apparent in their representations for Obama and McCain that they disagree on any number of issues, from abortion to health care reform to the war in Iraq to taxes.

Perhaps their sharpest difference came on abortion when Strange said that McCain, like himself, is a pro-life Republican who believes in the sanctity of life from conception on.

Davis responded by saying that Obama, like himself, is also pro-life, but that both believe life begins at birth, not conception.

Strange said that, if elected, Obama would move the nation toward a universal health care system that would result in a decline in the quality of health care. He said he, like McCain, supports measures to make the current health care system better.

Davis responded that the current health system does not work for millions of Americans, and that it is morally wrong for people to go without adequate health care because they can't afford it.

On taxes, Strange said McCain would not support tax increases if elected. Davis said the issue was tax fairness, and that if Obama had to increase taxes he believed the increases should begin with those making $250,000 a year or more.