LeSueur's run may not be so quixotic [MS-2]

The Greenwood Commonwealth ^ | March 15, 2004 | The Greenwood Commonwealth

[JohnnyZ]

Tireless campaigner made a strong showing in GOP primary.

Clinton B. LeSueur amply demonstrated in Tuesday's congressional primary that he is no flash in the pan. The indefatigable fellow knows how to get votes.

LeSueur set up a November rematch with incumbent Rep. Bennie Thompson after easily dispatching two challengers for the Republican nomination.

Although the turnout was terribly light, LeSueur did a good job of showing the Republican Party leadership that his campaign will be worth investing in. He more than doubled his vote total from the 2002 GOP primary while capturing 85 percent of the vote.

He still remains a longshot to unseat Thompson, an 11-year incumbent, in a predominantly Democratic district, but LeSueur has made the National Republican Congressional Committee's belief that Thompson is vulnerable suddenly not seem so far-fetched.

The question will be whether the Republicans put serious money into LeSueur's candidacy. Two years ago, LeSueur ran mostly on shoe leather, with the GOP treasure and muscle concentrated on helping Chip Pickering defeat Ronnie Shows in the battle of incumbents in the 3rd Congressional District.

Still, LeSueur, a Holly Springs native who now makes his home in Greenville, took a respectable 43 percent of the vote against Thompson despite being outspent almost 7-to-1.

LeSueur has not stopped campaigning in the interim, going door to door in many parts of his district canvassing for votes.

He offers an intriguing counterpoint to Thompson. Though both are black and come from humble origins, LeSueur embraces the GOP philosophy of personal responsibility and self-determination. LeSueur is more focused on individuals helping and improving themselves rather than letting the government do it for them. He is a cultural conservative, opposed to gay marriage and abortion.

Thompson's brand of Democratic politics is tried and true. He backs government programs that help those in need. He is a master at managing federal money. He walks in lock step with the liberal wing of the national Democratic Party on abortion rights and other social issues.

The most refreshing part of LeSueur's candidacy is that he is racially inclusive, a candidate - unlike Thompson - who is more likely to help unite the races than divide them. In fact, LeSueur's biggest challenge is going to be getting black voters to break their long-ingrained habit of shunning Republican candidates. To win in the majority black 2nd District, he will have to do better than the estimated 12 percent of black voters he attracted in 2002.

LeSueur, no matter how charismatic or tireless, won't be able to win on a shoestring. As of mid-February, he had just $16,000 in his treasury, compared to the $355,000 Thompson had already accumulated in his campaign kitty. If, however, LeSueur can pair the money with the rising Republican tide in Mississippi, he may just defy the oddsmakers.

[Dan from Michigan]

Only 10,000 votes? A good turnout can cut that in 1/2.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Only 10,000 votes? A good turnout can cut that in 1/2."

---

Yes, but he lost by 10,000 votes in a low-turnout non-presidential year (although there was a gubernatorial election going on), and turnout will be higher in 2004 not just for white conservatives, but also for black Democrats. No matter what turnout is like among whites, LeSueur needs to increase his share of the black vote if he's going to unseat Thompson.

[Guillermo]

going door to door in many parts of his district

If he's been doing this in precincts that went heavy Dem since the last election, he could have a good shot.

If one can meet 50 people in 700 days, that's 35,000.

[JohnnyZ]

going door to door in many parts of his district

I liked seeing that as well. There's no substitute for meeting people in person, looking them in the eye, and asking them for their vote. LeSueur was clearly doing something right in 2002 with his strong showing, and he'll need every edge he can get to pull off the upset this year.

[JohnnyZ]

Yes, but he lost by 10,000 votes in a low-turnout non-presidential year (although there was a gubernatorial election going on)

No gubernatorial election in 2002. I suppose they might have had something state-related on the ballot but I don't know what that would be.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"No gubernatorial election in 2002."

---

You're right, my bad. Barbour was elected in 2003, not 2002.

As Homer would say, "Shtupid odd-year elections."

[stboz]

...he'll need every edge he can get to pull off the upset this year.

It's called the RNC. I hope this year they will get off their behinds and put some money into Clinton's campaign. It's a seat ripe for the picking if the national party would just show up.

[Clintonfatigued]

It looks mildly promising. But in 2002, the only statewide race in Mississippi was the reelection of Senator Thad Cochran, who is hugely popular. Chances are, the Presidential race will increase African-American turnout.

[HostileTerritory]

I doubt LeSueur could afford Ambassador Keyes' speaking fees.

[onyx]

"dude you forgot the link" LOL-LOL-LOL

[JohnnyZ]

I doubt LeSueur could afford Ambassador Keyes' speaking fees.

Keyes has been active around the country raising money for candidates, most recently Jackie Winters in Oregon.

[WillRain]

It doesn't work that way...the cost of the apperance comes out of the money raised. It'd be a lock to be a big net gain for the candidate, otherwise expensive folks from Clinton on down wouldn't be employed full time in making such apperances.

Or were you just taking a cheap shot at Keyes? Seems to be a popular sport around FR but i've no idea if you are one of it's participans So I will answer your question honestly.

[WillRain]

Something else he REALLY needs to do is bring J.C. Watts down and be seen with him ALOT!

Between Keyes' high octaine rehtoric and Watts embodying the image of what it is to be a Black Republican fully off the plantation, it'd be a dynamic campaign.

[onyx]

RNC will come thru,
Haley used to run it
and they'll respond to him.

You don't know me,
but I'm moving to Vb
from CA: the reverse of you.