[billhilly]

“When will the election to finish out Lott’s term be held? Next November?”

He has five years left in his term. Whoever Governor Barbour appoints will be in the senate for a long time.

[Andy'smom]

I thought there is a special election in Nov. ‘08?

[AuH2ORepublican]

“He has five years left in his term. Whoever Governor Barbour appoints will be in the senate for a long time.”

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No, the person appointed by Gov. Barbour would only serve until a special election is held, and it is the winner of the special election who would serve the remainder of Lott’s term. Gov. Barbour said that he would schedule the special election for November 2008 (to coincide with the general election for congressional and presidential races), but I recently read that if Lott resigns prior to January 1 (as he intends to do, especially since he would be able to start lobbying quicker than if he was in office on January 1 when the new ethics law goes into effect) that Barbour would need to call the special election within 90 days of the resignation taking effect. I hope that’s not the case, though, since a GOP Senator that has been in office for 9 months and is running in a presidential election would have a much easier election than someone who has only been in the Senate for 3 months and is running in a low-turnout special election.