Posted on 11/28/2007 4:47:30 PM PST by Clintonfatigued
Surveys are already underway in Mississippi to find out who Mississippians think is the "hot" name to serve in Sen. Trent Lott's seat until a special election is held in November 2008.
The list is a virtual who's who of Mississippi politics, past and present. From former governors to a former attorney general to present office holders, both in Washington and Jackson.
The political consulting firm, Zata 3, polled voters in all four congressional districts. Zata 3 works for Democrats and the survey was not weighted for age, race or gender.
The firm polled almost 1,400 voters and found Cong. Chip Pickering is the most popular among the eight candidates voters could choose from. Of the candidates listed, only former governor, Ronnie Musgrove, has spoken on camera about the possibility of running.
"Two months ago we thought it was going to be a boring election year," said Andy Taggart, legal and strategic counsel.
Taggart was also chief of staff for Gov, Kirk Fordice. He said he believes Pickering, as well as Cong. Roger Wicker would be the front runners on the Republican side.
"There's really no one who matches up to the two congressmen in terms of credibility , experience, electability and the rest of that," Taggart said.
For Democrats, Mike Moore is a name that keeps popping up every time a state wide office comes open.
"A lot of people question whether he wants to run another statewide race. Everybody has always assumed so," Taggart said.
The Zata 3 polling shows Moore second only to Pickering, but by a wide margin.
(Excerpt) Read more at wtok.com ...
Pickering appears to benefit from his father’s unfair treatment from Senate Democrats in the judicial confirmation battles. But it’s not clear that he really wants the job.
Mississippi ping!
This ping list is really getting a workout this week. ;o)
I think that Chip Pickering can have the appointment if he wants it, but he doesn’t really want it. If he sticks with that decision, it’s Roger Wicker.
But I’m not from Mississippi, so any feedback from a local Freeper would be much appreciated.
We’re gonna have to see how this Scruggs’ thing shakes out. I’ll trust Gov. Haley to find a worthy successor for the interim.
I’d love to help you, but I live in Oregon, now. ;o)
Keep reading the posts, though.
Some locals will show up.
There are a few who are very knowledgable wrt MS politics.
Musgrove doesn’t have a chance with all of his Klintonian sexual baggage, and if the rumor on the Scrugg’s thread is correct, Moore could get dragged into that trial.
Agreed.
It's getting very interesting in MS.
There's no doubt Haley will find the best person for the job.
I never totally trusted Lott after he took a lead in assuring that the impeachment of billy boy went nowhere at all, and his snotty remarks during the amnesty travesty didn’t endear him to me either, but whats up?
Why is he leaving? I’m pretty sure it isn't that his feelings got hurt or anything like that, so why retire now?
Has this been definitely confirmed, or is the writer just making an assumption? What if Lott resigns before January 1, as discussed here earlier?
Wicker is my rep and he seems to be a great guy as his staff always calls when I call him. Desoto county will make sure we have another Rup rep, Haley would appoint that one too I guess.
“...I never totally trusted Lott after he took a lead in assuring that the impeachment of billy boy went nowhere at all,....”
So you would have been happy with a President Gore?
Some in congress took a look at that and decided leaving bill in office was a better option. I agree.
“Haley would appoint that one too I guess.”
Actually, it’s only vacant Senate seats that are filled by Gubenatorial appointment. For the House, it’s done through a special election.
Wouldn’t have bothered me one whit.
Having an enfeebled dem president assume office after his boss had become the first president in history to have his fat ass kicked out of office by the congress of the USA, rather than the empowered machinations of a newly unfettered, bold, and empowered slick willie, would have been a dream come true for America.
Damn right I would have.
Hood says election must take place within 100 days. http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=259703&pub=1&div=News
Musgrove was mentioned after prayer meeting this evening. He stands about as much a chance as John Arthur Eaves did!
The more I think about it, the less sense it would make to appoint a sitting Congressman to the seat if the election has to be held within 100 days of the vacancy. Chip Pickering (or, God forbid, Roger Wicker) would have to resign from his House seat, and then (i) face a GOP primary that he possibly won’t win and (ii) run in a special general election that wouldn’t necessarily be a slam-dunk, and whether he wins or loses his House seat would be filled by the winner of a special election that would probably take place on the same day as the special Senate election. It would be better if Chip Pickering (or Wicker) runs for the Senate seat without having resigned from his House seat, which would mean that Governor Barbour should appoint a placeholder for the seat. I agree with DJ’s suggestion of Mayor Charles Evers as a reward for a lifetime of service to the equal protection of laws and other conservative ideals.
However, if Governor Barbour’s argument succeeds and he is able to call the special election for November 8, then it does make sense for him to appoint someone who would be the incumbent long enough to have the upper hand both in the primary and the general election. Perhaps Governor Barbour should set the Nov. 8 date for the special election soon after he receives the notice of vacancy (but not before Jan. 1) and try to get the case decided by the court in the next few days (since if the state AG’s interpretation of the statute prevailed an election date not later than early April would need to be called as soon as possible to allow for primary campaigns), and depending on how the courts rule appoint either Chip Pickering (if the special can be held in November) or Mayor Evers (if it must be held not later than early April) to the Senate seat.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.