DEMOPOLIS &8212; U.S. Rep. Artur Davis showed early that he doesn&8217;t always toe the party line.

At other times, he sounds like the definition of an old-school Southern Democrat.

But the groundwork for the current gas crunch was set 35 years ago during the gasoline crisis of the early 1970s, Davis said.

Davis and his colleagues in the House passed a bill that would open an investigation into OPEC for oil price fixing.

Davis was open about his future political aspirations. When asked whether he might be a candidate for a cabinet position if Barack Obama wins the presidency, Davis argued that he had other plans.

What would Davis be interested in? How about being the state&8217;s first black governor?

But pursuing the governor&8217;s chair would mean giving up his congressional seat.

And Davis thinks his qualifications &8212; noty his race &8212; will play a huge role if he chooses to run for governor.