Posted on 09/02/2003 5:17:38 PM PDT by WKB
Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck met with President Bush on Tuesday in what Mississippi Republican leaders say was a chance for the president to endorse Tuck's re-election.
At the White House, Bush welcomed Tuck and a group of Mississippi lawmakers who recently switched to the Republican Party, said White House spokesman Taylor Gross.
"This primary event was to honor Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck. That's what it was all about,'' said state GOP chairman Jim Herring, who also attended the meeting.
"The president invited Tuck to come up and voice his strong support for her and give her a briefing on various issues and to celebrate the fact that she has joined the Republican Party,'' Herring said.
Tuck was elected as a Democrat in 1999. She jumped to the GOP last winter, saying she found herself at odds with the agenda of national and state Democrats regarding redistricting and whether to support Al Gore for president.
"It was a great meeting,'' Tuck said Tuesday after returning to Jackson. "Hopefully, he will certainly help our campaign.''
Bush will be in Jackson on Sept. 12 for a fund-raiser for Republican gubernatorial candidate Haley Barbour, according to Barbour's campaign. Gross said the White House hasn't released an official schedule for Bush.
Barbour faces Democratic incumbent Gov. Ronnie Musgrove and some lesser known challengers in the Nov. 4 general election.
Herring said he believes Bush will campaign for Tuck while he's in the state. Tuck faces state Sen. Barbara Blackmon in the November election.
"We are placing a great emphasis on enhancing our number in the state Legislature,'' Herring said.
Among the other new Republicans in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday were state Sens. Terry Burton of Newton; Tommy Dickerson of Waynesboro; Travis Little of Corinth and state Reps. John Read of Gautier, Frank Hamilton of Hurley, Herb Frierson of Poplarville and Jim Barnett of Brookhaven.
Herring said the group spent about an hour with Bush who talked about everything from how he chose the paintings on the wall to his re-election bid. Tuck said members of the group also had their picture taken with Bush.
You obviously don't understand Mississippi politcs.
Those dems were conservative before they switched parties.
This was a reward for jumping to the Republicans.
President Bush will be back to campaign for Haley.
Thanks for the ping!
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