Will He Or Won't He? Lott Poised To Announce Re-Election Plans (@11 AM today)

wlox ^

[WKB]

U.S. Sen. Trent Lott will announce Tuesday whether he's seeking re-election this year, and his decision could either set off a political stampede in Mississippi or signal his attempt to seek a Senate leadership position.

Republican insiders believe Lott, 64, is likely seek a fourth term. They cite his recent remark at the state Capitol that he'd stay in Washington "as long as it takes to get the job done for Mississippi in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, at the very minimum.''

Lott - who lost his own beach-side house to Katrina on Aug. 29 - will reveal his political plans during news conferences in his hometown of Pascagoula and at the state Capitol in Jackson.

"There's always a question of how long is enough,'' Lott said when asked about his plans earlier this month.

"I've been at it for 37 years as a staff member, as a congressman and as a senator. Thirty-seven years is a pretty good period of time. But you know, I've enjoyed every minute of it. So I guess one thing I could say is, why end something that you're having so much fun at?''

Lott's decision could have repercussions in Washington, where Republicans hold 55 seats, Democrats hold 44 and an independent who leans toward Democrats holds the other. If Lott opts not to run, both parties are likely to pour money into the Mississippi race.

Lott's announcement about re-election comes six weeks before candidates' March 1 qualifying deadline.

Lott is unbeatable if he runs, said political scientist Marty Wiseman, director of Mississippi State University's John C. Stennis Institute of Government. If he doesn't run, a herd of high-profile politicians will try to succeed him, Wiseman said.

Among the Republicans mentioned as possible candidates are Lott's protege, U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering. Democrats frequently mentioned include former Attorney General Mike Moore and former Govs. Ronnie Musgrove and Ray Mabus.

The only candidate qualified so far is state Rep. Erik Fleming, D-Clinton, who's expected to have trouble raising big money against Lott.

Party primaries are June 6. The general election is Nov. 7.

Lott has been tightlipped about his decision. Even state GOP chairman Jim Herring said Monday he didn't know what the announcement would be, but he hopes the senator runs again.

Wiseman said he thought at one time that Lott wouldn't run - but then he heard Lott discussing international nuclear policy on the Sunday talk shows this past weekend.

"If he decides not to be a senator, he can certainly make a living playing poker,'' Wiseman said. "I've never seen anybody hold cards so close to the vest.''

Lott was Senate majority leader from 1996 until June 2001, when Vermont Sen. James Jeffords left the Republican Party to become an independent, tipping control of the Senate to the Democrats. L

ott's title switched to minority leader, and after the GOP fared well in the 2002 elections he was slated to become majority leader again.

Lott lost his leadership position in December 2002 after saying at Sen. Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday party that Mississippi had proudly voted for Thurmond when the South Carolinian ran for president as a segregationist in 1948.

Lott said last month that he might seek another Senate leadership job if he wins another term. The current majority leader, Tennessee Republican Bill Frist, already has announced that he's not seeking re-election this year, opening an inside race among Republicans for the Senate's top jobs, including party whip.

Lott was first elected to the U.S. House in 1972 and served as House Republican whip for eight years before being elected to the Senate in November 1988.

Lott, who holds undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Mississippi, started his Washington career in 1968 as administrative assistant to U.S. Rep. William Colmer, D-Miss. Lott won the south Mississippi congressional seat when Colmer retired.

[mwl1]

Good. Thanks for update. One less seat to worry about.

[libtoken]

Lott said more has to be done.He noted that Katrina took away things that had been around 150-200 years, and many are dealing with insurance and FEMA, and he is disappointed with the delay in the delivery of temporary housing, and it is one reason why he feels the need to stay. He said he will be focusing on dealing with this, as there is a lot of debris still piled up, and he feels he needs to push and ask questions.

[YaYa123]

I watched, and I'm glad he's running. I hope his family steers clear of Indian casino scandal allegations too.

I liked the way he tap danced the question, "would he seek Frist's leadership of the senate"

[dixiechick2000]

Looks like I missed all of the speculation and anticipation.
Oh, well...better late than never.

Thank you for your posts, and updates.
I'm glad we won't have to worry about his senate seat.
The possibility of a Sen. Mike Moore gives me the willies.