But, seriously, I bet the private polling for Wicker is not looking too great and this “retirement” is something engineered by Barbour & McConnell to help Wicker.
Now Chris McDaniel may be tempted to switch to run in a special election for the Cochran seat, which does not expire until Jan. 2021.
Wicker is a cousin of the late Fred Thompson; I would imagine he will win his primary easily, considering the regard people in MS have always held for incumbency.