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July 12, 2002/Av 3 5762, Vol. 54, No. 43
Loser in vote blames Jews
LARRY BROOK
Deep South Jewish Voice
BIRMINGHAM - In a race that could have repercussions for strained black-Jewish relations, U.S. Rep. Earl Hilliard is claiming that out-of-state Jewish money bought his defeat in Alabama's Seventh District primary.
Political observers however, say Hilliard, a five-term congressman, was voted out because he was ineffective.
Attorney Artur Davis defeated Hilliard, 56 percent to 44 percent, in the Democratic primary runoff June 25. There is only token Libertarian opposition in the predominantly black district, so winning the primary virtually assures Davis, 34, of the seat.
In 2000, Hilliard trounced political newcomer Davis by 24 points. This time around, Davis had the money to give Hilliard his first serious challenge since he was elected to Congress in 1992.
The race drew national attention because of Hilliard's outspoken views on the Middle East, exemplified by his controversial trip to Libya in 1997. Hilliard also was among a handful of House of Representatives members to vote against a May resolution supporting Israel's fight against terror.
Hilliard advocates a Palestinian state, but insists that he is not anti-Israel. He seeks a "more balanced" approach to Middle East diplomacy, he says.
Last year, the House of Representatives' Ethics Committee reprimanded Hilliard for irregularities in his handling of campaign funds.
Hilliard had never lost a race in his 28-year political career. But the rush of support this time for Davis - who raised less than $90,000 in his 2000 race - seemed to blindside Hilliard.
Local Jewish activists, impressed by the Harvard-educated Davis in 2000, felt he could win if his message could get out. They encouraged friends to support him.
In all, Davis raised about $900,000, including almost $800,000 in individual donations - the vast majority of which came from Jews across the country, especially in New York.
Hilliard raised about $600,000, with less than one-third coming from individuals. Reports to the Federal Election Commission leading up to the runoff showed that 28 of 35 individual donors to Hilliard were out-of-state Muslims.
Davis visited the April annual meeting of the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee to meet several donors and thank his Alabama supporters.
Shortly thereafter, a flier surfaced in Alabama entitled "Artur Davis and the Jews: Bad for Black Belt."
Though it was signed with shortened versions of the names of two Hilliard associates, Hilliard disavowed the flier and implied that Davis wrote it himself to scare Jewish donors into giving him more money.
Davis dismissed the accusation as nonsense.
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