History Is Made Again in Selma, Ala.

March 4, 2007 — -- Selma, Ala., on Sunday witnessed an uneasy convergence of history, race and politics.

Forty-two years ago, a day known since as "Bloody Sunday," Selma became a flashpoint in the civil rights struggle. State and local police clashed with protesters demanding voting rights.

This Sunday, it was the scene of a political clash between the two Democrats leading the race for their party's nomination for president.

Sens. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Barack Obama, D-Ill., gave dueling speeches at black churches just a block apart.

Because Selma is sacred ground, the politics was muted. There were few campaign signs out, after churches urged supporters to keep them at home.

Obama spoke at the church Martin Luther King, Jr used as headquarters when he came to Selma to fight for the Voting Rights Act.

Obama seemed to address accusations that he is not black enough because of his mixed ancestry.

"Don't tell me I don't have a claim on Selma, Ala.," he said. "Don't tell me I'm not coming home when I come to Selma, Ala. I'm here because somebody marched for our freedom."

Clinton decided to come to Selma only after Obama announced he would be there, but she insisted it was not a political move.

The Voting Rights Act is "a gift that keeps on giving," she said. "Today it is giving Sen. Obama a chance to run for president of the United States and, yes, it's giving me that chance too."

The line to hear Obama was far longer than the line to hear Clinton. Asked why, Obama laughed it off, saying it showed only that he was speaking first.

But some of those on the line to hear him were not shy about explaining why.

One woman who said she admired Clinton said, "I hope that in my lifetime I will be able to see a person of color be president of the United States, and not just on TV."

ABC News polls show Obama has made great strides with black voters. In January, blacks favored Clinton over Obama three to one. The latest poll shows a stunning reversal, with Obama now ahead, 44 percent to 33 percent.

Selma's congressman, Artur Davis, who supports Obama, said Clinton was sending a message to black voters by coming to Selma.

"I think that Sen. Clinton felt that there was no better place than this stage to make a statement about her seriousness in contesting the black vote," he said.

For the first time on Sunday, former President Bill Clinton campaigned at his wife's side. They marched side by side across the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge, with Obama a few steps away.

ABC News' John Cochran contributed to this report.