The Artur Davis for Governor campaign says this radio ad featuring Congressman and Alabama native John Lewis and Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. will air on radio stations across Alabama.
John Lewis: This is Congressman John Lewis.
Jesse Jackson, Jr.: And this is Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.
John Lewis: And we want to talk to you about our friend Artur Davis.
Jesse Jackson, Jr.: Artur and I were there at the beginning in the fight to elect Barack Obama President.
John Lewis: I've seen Congressman Davis fight to give black farmers their day in court, and to save black colleges from funding cuts. We've worked together on the Ways and Means Committee to provide healthcare to millions of uninsured children.
Jesse Jackson, Jr.: Artur and I don't agree on everything but Alabama needs a leader who will fight for jobs and better schools, and Artur Davis will be that Governor.
John Lewis: I am an Alabamian by birth, and I know what it would mean to see Artur Davis sworn in on the same steps where George Wallace stood.
Jesse Jackson, Jr.: Won't you join us in supporting Artur Davis for Governor in the Democratic primary on June 1st.
While this does help Davis counter some of Sparks's African-American endorsements I am not so sure this couldn't hurt him in the general. Does a black candidate running on the Democratic ticket really want to have ties to anyone associated with Jesse Jackson in an Alabama general election? I know the realities of the endorsement, and they don't bother me personally, but I think the potential implicaitons of this ad should not be overlooked.
Yes, there are many who make no distinction between Jesse Jackson Sr. and Jesse Jackson Jr. (After all, we're not talking about someone really important here, like Hank Williams), and for those, this may be problematic for Artur.
On the other hand, for me, the John Lewis endorsement is big. And I am white, old, and Southern by birth and raisin'. Of course, I am pretty liberal, but since I don't think Artur is liberal enough, the ad helps.
Make no mistake, I believe that this is a good primary ad, but I think it is quite possible the general electorate won't draw the distincition b/t Jr. and his father should the GOP choose to use this in the general. If that's the case, it isn't really important that they are quite different. Of course, that won't matter if African-Americans vote for Sparks.
Also I wouldn't be too worried about those that seem to have issues with Jesse Jackson, Jr. because of his father's name. If they vote against Davis because something as simple as that then they likely weren't going to vote for him anyways in the general election.