Mayor Day deserves a lot of credit for McCain's historic visit
Editor's Notes

Jim Cox

If you had told me even a few weeks ago that on this past Monday the John McCain campaign bus would be rattling down Highway 5 toward Thomasville with Thomasville Mayor Sheldon Day huddled with Gov. Bob Riley and certain Republican presidential nominee McCain talking about issues affecting rural Alabama and rural America I would have said, "Get out of here! You're crazy!"

But that is exactly what happened Monday. The bus started in Selma, stopped in Gee's Bend where McCain bought a few of the famous - but expensive- quilts and then rode the Gee's Bend ferry. Coming on down Highway 5, McCain stopped for ice cream and a chat with folks at Carolyn's Restaurant in Pine Hill.

Amazing!

I suspect Thomasville Mayor Sheldon Day can be credited in large part for the unusual campaign swing.

McCain had visited Demopolis in 2006 and knowing Sheldon, I'm sure he made sure he got to know the senator then. He's visited his Washington, D.C. office since then and last year asked McCain to speak at Thomasville's Rural Supplier Conference. McCain supposedly accepted but his campaign nosed-dived about the time of the conference and he had to cancel.

Again, knowing Sheldon, he probably reminded McCain of the earlier commitment and it fit with the campaign's desire to reach out to rural areas and to black Americans, a group that never votes GOP and is never targeted by the GOP.

McCain probably didn't change any black voters' minds in Selma or Gee's Bend but he was treated nicely and folks appeared to be impressed that he would take the time to visit them.

When he got to Thomasville, the racial make-up of the crowd greatly changed at Alabama Southern Community College. Thomasville has a significant black population but the turnout was mostly white and if not Republican, at least independent.

State Rep. Thomas Jackson, a black Democrat who lives in Thomasville and works at Alabama Southern, laughed when I kidded him about being at the event. "We are definitely in the minority now," he joked of the crowd, which could have been a reference to his race and/or his party status.

McCain did a commendable job in Thomasville but probably didn't sway any of the mostly white crowd just as he didn't sway any in Gee's Bend. Most of those who saw him in Thomasville are probably going to vote for him anyway.

But it was a historical first regardless of any real impact on voting- the first time that a presidential candidate has ever visited Clarke County.

Sheldon Day has his supporters and he has his critics but he has pushed and pulled Thomasville forward during his terms as mayor. He's done that by making himself known to governors, congressional leaders and others in positions of authority. Now, he has even made inroads with the certain GOP presidential nominee and possibly the next president of the United States. Who would have thought it?

Again, I'd have to say it is amazing.

Jim Cox is editor and publisher of The Clarke County Democrat.

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