Ladder climb

U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, D-Birmingham, wants to change his title to "U.S. Sen." or "Gov." soon.

Davis, speaking at his alma mater earlier this month, told The Harvard Crimson that he hopes to run for governor or U.S. senator in Alabama by 2010. Like any good politician, he knows the value of party loyalty and open seats, so he said he wouldn't run against an incumbent Democratic governor or an incumbent U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala.

Davis is Alabama's only black congressman, but he told the Mobile Register that he doesn't think his race would prompt white voters to reject his message: "I think a black candidate who's talking about issues that resonate with voters all around the state would receive a fair hearing and could be elected."