After Lott: Dems Think Election Law Gives Them Shot At Winning Seat

After Lott: Dems Think Election Law Gives Them Shot At Winning Seat
By Greg Sargent - November 26, 2007, 5:47PM


In the wake of Trent Lott's announcement that he's resigning from the Senate, several news accounts have reported that Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, a Republican, will immediately appoint a replacement -- and Barbour further announced today that a special election will be held to fill the seat on election day in November of 2008.

This would be a big boon to Republican efforts to hold Lott's seat. That's because it would allow whoever the appointee is the next 11 months to build up a record, raise money, and amass the advantages of incumbency in advance of the special contest.

But what does election law really hold?

National Dems who are scrutinizing the relevant statute say that they think that in fact it stipulates that the election is to be held within 90 days of the date of Lott's resignation, which he hasn't announced yet.

If true, that would effectively minimize the GOP advantage. Because of this -- and because an earlier special election might have a lower turnout -- it would give Dems a shot at winning that special contest.

And guess what -- it looks as if the Mississippi Secretary of State has confirmed that the special election is in fact supposed to happen 90 days after Lott's resignation date -- and not in 2008, as Barbour is claiming.

National Dems say that Barbour is ignoring election law to rig the game in their favor -- and that an earlier contest would play to their advantage. "Republicans clearly know they will have a very hard time holding this seat if they election is held in 90 days," a national Dem strategist tells TPM Election Central. "They get ugly when their backs are to the wall, and Barbour is just doing what they always try to do -- bending the law to suit their purposes."

more...

http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2007/11/after_lott_special_election_should_actually_be_held_in_90_days_dems_say.php

The GOP can't be very popular in Miss., especially with all the post-Katrina problems. Definitely worth watching to see what happens here.

there's a very poplular dem in MS- I'm blanking on his name, but I think he was SoS there. He was going to run if Cochran stepped down. Hopefully he'll throw his hat in the ring.

I know nothing about this state, I only know this seat could/will be really important.

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wms

snip//

But the Democrats’ hopes of seriously competing in a November 2008 special election to fill out the final four years of Lott’s unexpired term — in a conservative Southern state that has been trending steadily Republican — depends on their ability to recruit a top-tier candidate from a quite small pool of party political heavyweights. That list includes such figures as former state Attorney General Mike Moore, who released a statement Monday evening saying he is considering a Senate bid; former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove; veteran U.S. House incumbent Gene Taylor ; and former Rep. Ronnie Shows.

former attorney general Mike Moore, and former govenor ronny musgrove. All would be hard to beat since name reconigtion from the start would be very important and known statewide. Of those on the right that might take a shot and of these two the one barbour chooses will have a better chance. Chip Pickering but he has said he was not going to run in 08 and this might be a negative for him and the other is roger wicker from the northern part of the state.

If I were to chose, I would give the nod to Mike Moore.This would put some much needed fire under the dems asses in Ms. and would be the most viable person statewide.

Ben David