Public Policy Polling:
Artur Davis (D): 35
Bradley Byrne (R): 39
Artur Davis (D): 39
Kay Ivey (R): 31
Artur Davis (D): 37
Tim James (R): 35
Artur Davis (D): 41
Roy Moore (R): 38
Ron Sparks (D): 27
Bradley Byrne (R): 41
Ron Sparks (D): 33
Kay Ivey (R): 29
Ron Sparks (D): 32
Tim James (R): 32
Ron Sparks (D): 36
Roy Moore (R): 38
(MoE: ±3.8%)
Artur Davis begins the 2010 gubernatorial race with some impressive numbers, especially compared to state Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks. Tom Jensen offers an explanation:
There's not much doubt the black vote is the reason Davis is polling so much better than Sparks. For instance, against Byrne, Davis holds a 58-point lead with that demographic, 68-10. But Sparks has just an 18 point advantage at 38-20. Sparks actually gets slightly more support from white voters than Davis in all of the possible matches.
It raises the question, then: are these numbers represent something close to a high-water mark for Davis in a general election? While Davis has consolidated a good deal of support from the African-American community already, most of the remaining undecided voters are whites -- a notoriously difficult voting bloc for any Democrat in Alabama to crack.
http://www.swingstateproject.com/diary/5098/algov-davis-posts-early-lead-on-gop-field-except-for-byrne