Poll: Republican Senator In Close Race In Mississippi
Republicans may now have a tough time on their hands defending a Senate seat in, of all places, Mississippi.
The new Research 2000 poll, commissioned by Daily Kos: Appointed Sen. Roger Wicker (R) 46%, former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove (D) 42%. Margin of error: ±4%.
Mississippi would normally be considered beyond reach for the Democrats, but a lot of doubt has been cast upon that normal assumption by the recent special election win in Wicker's former House district. And the general circumstances of this year, with Wicker's recent appointment to the seat and an under-funded national Senate GOP organization, could open up new opportunities for the Dems.
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Comments (19)
It should also be added that Democrats do not often have such a prominent top-tier candidate (in this case, a former governor) in such a red state.
May 23, 2008 9:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
And yet, Eric, you still insist that Texas is a safe state for the Republicans, while y'all keep posting about their problems all over the red map.
*heavy sigh*
I'm out - see y'all later, perhaps. One love.
May 23, 2008 10:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, boy! It's even getting interesting down here in Dixie!
May 23, 2008 10:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Haha, the Republican "brand" has reached Chinese toys painted with lead and poisoned dog food status. No one wants it. Couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch of a-holes.
May 23, 2008 10:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Eric, can you please put Josh's front page post about the CNN report about the exit talks between Obama and Clinton here in Election Central? I'd like to see others comment on that post.
May 23, 2008 10:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
I second that emotion!
May 23, 2008 10:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
He's too busy trying to find a poll from Ohio to put up that will embelish HRC's bullshit spewing...
May 23, 2008 10:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
I realize this guy is only appointed, but normally, at this stage in the election, a sitting Senator polling less than 50% is definitely in a hole. Mississippians really came through for Democrat Childers just recently (make that, "Congressman Childers", excuse me), in ways that the polls had not fully reflected, either.
In this case, no one should be counting their chickens, but if this poll is even close to legit, this opportunity may be genuine. Which, yes, is dumbfounding.
May 23, 2008 10:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
I vaguely recall that Obama said that he put Mississippi into play but this was dismissed. Is this a correct recollection?
May 23, 2008 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, he said it shortly after the Childers win.
May 23, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Eric Kleefeld:
Why do you guys keep italicizing words in your headlines? It's so juvenile.
May 23, 2008 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Er, it's part of normal practice in print. Usually denotes emphasis. Are you anti-emphasis?
May 23, 2008 1:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes. In headlines.
May 23, 2008 1:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Cube3u, I think you're right. It did sound fairly preposterous.
And yet...
May 23, 2008 10:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
During the course of the election, I wonder Musgrove will take a cue from Childers and say thtings like
"Childers, who is pro-life and pro-gun, told a Memphis television interviewer that "Sen. Obama has not endorsed my candidacy. I've not been in contact with his campaign nor has he been in contact with mine." The last two assertions are, Childers insisted in a telephone conversation on Monday, true. But the television interviewer asked him, "Would you accept Obama's endorsement?"
Childers: "Let me tell you what sort of endorsements we're looking for and that we've had. We've had the endorsement of working people of north Mississippi, working families.""
See http://www.presstelegram.com/commentary/ci_9219296
May 23, 2008 10:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is turning into the perfect example of the electoral incompetence of the GOP. They appoint a sitting rep from a safe seat, expecting to hold that seat and get a strong incumbent to run for the Senate. (Remember this is the seat where Babour delayed announcing a replacement for Lott in an effort to avoid a quick special election.) They are now in serious danger of losing both the House seat and the Senate seat. Wicker is in danger of going from a safe House seat to out of office. Just an awesome development.
May 23, 2008 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Pithy summary, Merle!
May 23, 2008 11:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good. And Obama at the top of the ticket ought to drive higher AA turnout there, which will help as well.
May 23, 2008 11:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Okay, this one has been bugging me for a while. Does everyone remember what Ronnie Musgrove did during his time as governor. This guy is Mr. Ten Commandments. He offered to display Judge Roy Moore's Ten Commandments monument in the state capitol.
Other fun facts, he ordered that "In God We Trust" must be displayed in Mississippi's public school cafeterias and signed a bill making it illegal for gay and lesbian couples to adopt children.
I understand that it would be a real coup to turn Trent Lott's seat blue, but does anyone besides me feel uncomfortable throwing your support behind this guy. I'm sure he's better than Wicker...actually, I'm not totally convinced, but in any event, this guy just gives me the willies. I'd hate to be Barack Obama and have to go down south and drape my arm around him. This guy is the closest thing to a Dixicrat that we have in the post-Strom Thurmond South.
May 23, 2008 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink