Wife of Miss. gov.-elect not always eager for spotlight

The Clarion Ledger, Jackson Ms ^ | November 8, 2003 | By Julie Goodman jgoodman@clarionledger.com

[WKB]

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Marsha Barbour joined her husband in the spotlight sometimes reluctantly after he started an emotionally and physically trying campaign that led to the defeat of Gov. Ronnie Musgrove.

Marsha Barbour, wife of Gov.-elect Haley Barbour, will be first lady in a state whose current governor has been divorced for two years. She has alluded to ideological differences with her husband but won't elaborate on what they are.

"I could be more fiscally conservative than he is and probably a little more open-minded socially than he is," she says. "Let's say I have my own opinions."

When peppered with questions, such as what she has planned for the new role, during a post-election news conference, she politely responds, "I don't know any of the above."

She has been taking advice from Pat Fordice, the only other Republican first lady the state has seen since Reconstruction. Fordice told her "to just sit back, because you can commit to doing too much too early," she said.

Fordice, now divorced from former Gov. Kirk Fordice, said the main role of a first lady is to "support your husband."

"The only advice I have to give Marsha is just to take her own time and to decide how she wants to be first lady. There's no manual that tells you what you should do."

First ladies are asked to speak at many events. But it is up to the wife, Fordice said, to establish her role and determine how much she will factor into her spouse's administration, and whether she wants to tout any cause, such as the volunteerism Pat Fordice advocated. "People do recognize you as the wife of the governor and that seems to give you more clout than you deserve," she said.

David Breaux, Mississippi State University political scientist, says that although first ladies have more impact at the national level, spouses of governors also can wield some influence if they choose.

"The potential is there for there to be an impact, particularly if governors allow them to play more of a political type role rather than just being a symbolic type person," he said.

The difficult part, Pat Fordice said, can be the public attention. "It's an exciting, exciting time in your life but, of course, you give up a lot because you're sort of in a fish bowl," she said.

Marsha Barbour campaigned sometimes 10 hours a day, and as many as six days a week, leaving her no spare time and sore feet.

She would move from Christian bookstore to shoe repair shop to law office, shaking hands and listening to voters' sometimes sad stories of illness and family death, even tearing up once after hearing how a woman lost her husband to cancer. She sent a letter to voters, complete with a photograph of her and her husband cutting a cake during their wedding.

Marsha Barbour, a stay-at-home mom who remained in Yazoo City to raise the couple's two sons while Haley Barbour traveled to and from his Washington lobbying firm, admits that being married to a high-profile husband hasn't always been easy.

"Sometimes the spouses are just pushed aside and it's not anything that people mean to do on purpose, I don't think, but sometimes you just really feel like a wall flower, and I would bet every spouse would say the same thing," she said during a recent stop on the campaign trail before Tuesday's election.

"It's nothing new to me. When he was the (Republican National Committee) chairman, we were at events, it happened. I should toughen up. I just can't toughen up," she says with a laugh.

But despite the difficulties, she supported his decision to run for governor, albeit a little reluctantly.

"Selfishly, I looked forward to having time to spend with him and I really knew that it would be opening up our lives ... to the public and that I just didn't look forward to sharing him with everybody," she said.

Throughout the campaign, Haley Barbour made it a point to hold his wife's hand in crowds and began nearly every speech with "Marsha and I ..." He would persistently gesture to his wife to stand by him as he faced reporters and television cameras.

Marsha Barbour, mostly smiling, but betraying an occasional yawn, was sometimes hesitant to share the attention, but always came to his side.

At the same time, she seems to offer a rare glimpse of individuality in the world of politics, where staying on message is paramount.

Unlike politicians on a campaign trail, she has no script. "What they see is what they get," she says

[WKB]

File photos by Brian Albert Broom/The Clarion-Ledger Feb. 17 Left: Marsha Barbour beams as husband Haley steps to the podium at the Triangle Cultural Center in Yazoo City to announce his run for governor

Nov. 5 Right: Gov.-elect Haley Barbour is joined by his wife and first-lady-to-be, Marsha, at a Wednesday news conference in Jackson.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MARSHA FILE

Age: 54

Children: Reeves, 24, and Sterling, 29

Marriage: Has been married to Haley Barbour for 32 years

Hometown: Monroeville, Ala.

Education: Bachelor's in marketing from the University of Mississippi

Interests: Golf, horseback riding

[WKB]

ping

[onyx]

Either Hell has frozen or your e-mails to Ms. Julie have penetrated her thick skull: she referred to him as Governor-elect Haley Barbour!

You think Julie is hoping the Washington millionaire lobbyist will grant her a one on one interview?

[dixiechick2000]

It would be a terrible mistake for her to write her usual hit piece on the lovely Marsha.

It's going to be interesting to see if WKB's wonderful emails will force her to refer to Haley as "Governor-elect" when she next writes about him.

"You think Julie is hoping the Washington millionaire lobbyist will grant her a one on one interview?"

Does a chicken have lips?

[onyx]

AAAAH --- another adorable MS son is doing his 'thang' on nation TV --- I know you're watching, see you here at half time.

[dixiechick2000]

I like watching Eli every bit as much as I liked watching his daddy.

I'm waving my Rebel flag that I obtained at the 1970 Sugar Bowl game (Ole Miss vs Ark.), and I'm NOT apologizing to anyone for having it. lol

[onyx]

Keep waving that flag with pride. You're making us all happy and proud. See you at half-time.

AAAAH, this is your wake-up call. Half-time or else.

[dixiechick2000]

Good first half!

[onyx]

Wave that valuable flag a couple of times for me --- ahead 4 points at half! Eli is looking GOOD!

Did you hear the announcer or one of the talkers at the start of the game say that he thinks Eli is the best Qb in college today?

[onyx]

AAAAH, I think we've literally caught him napping. LOL!!!!!!!!!

[dixiechick2000]

"say that he thinks Eli is the best Qb in college today?"

Yes, ma'am! I surely did...and, he is. He really reminds me of his daddy.

[dixiechick2000]

AAAAH, maybe he's still on that errand.

[onyx]

Nope, I know he's back. Sent me a reminder about the game! Of all the nerve. LOL!!!!!

[dixiechick2000]

Oh, he did, did he?

Well, where the heck is he?

[onyx]

AAAAH, my guess is napping. I mean, what else could be more fun that watching Eli and talking to us during half time? We'll permit him to redeem himself provided he shows up BEFORE the end of the game, won't we?

[dixiechick2000]

"We'll permit him to redeem himself..."

It had better be dang good. lol

[onyx]

I take "napping" back. Forget I said that. I'll bet he's washing dishes! ROFLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dixiechick2000]

If he's washing dishes, I'd say that pretty much redeems him.
Too bad it's not MY dishes. ;o)

[onyx]

I use paper plates, so he's all yours!

[dixiechick2000]

Wish I could get away with using paper plates. lol