Election Returns tonight in Mississippi

Clarion Ledger ^ | Aug 5, 2003 | Amish

[dixiechick2000]

Mississippi Primary Ping!

[BushCountry]

Out of the loop here. What is the national importance of this election if any? Just curious.

[Bob]

This almost has to be for state and local offices only, right?

[JohnnyZ]

What is the national importance of this election if any?

The results in the 5 off-year states (Miss Ky Va Jersey Loosiana) are often interpreted as indicative of the national political feeling heading into the normal election year.

In particular, the MS LA KY governors races are big; Terry McAuliffe is making a defeat of former RNC chair Haley Barbour in Mississippi (challenging incumbent Rat Ronnie Musgrove) a national priority for Democrats. The Democrats are also looking to show that they can compete in the South while the GOP is looking to lock up a few key holdouts: Kentucky hasn't had a Republican guv in forever while Miss and LA are still majority Democrat.

[dixiechick2000]

Excellent explanation! Thank you!

[WKB]

Thanks.
I knew somebody would do this.

[JohnnyZ]

I'm very interested to see what happens with the down-ballot races in the primary, on both sides.

Lt Gov: Blackmon v. Roberts v. Brown. Will the Democrats have a high-profile black candidate to drive up the vote? Will conservative Mr. Brown get any respect?

Treasurer: ditto, Anderson v. Ayers Elliott v. Smith. Will the vote be split on racial lines, with Rob Smith getting the white vote and winning?

On the GOP side: Ketchings v. Reeves v. Burkes -- who to root for?

Ag: Peanutman, Baby Magee, or the two other ones? I can't resist the Peanutman myself.

[JohnnyZ]

Early reports suggest turnout may be moderately higher than '99

http://www.magnoliareport.com/

[afuturegovernor]

I hope that RINO Mitch Tyner gets blasted by Haley Barbour in the Republican race for Governor. (And RINO is a term I hardly ever use because it has become almost meaningless but in this case Tyner is an complete RINO.)

It would be great if nobody received a majority in the Democratic race for Lt. Governor. It might be wishful thinking but it was force Democrats to waste more money in the primary.

[votelife]

I've called Hatch, Lott, Cochran and Rep Pickering and told them to schedule a vote on Pickering BEFORE the Mississippi gov race!

[BushCountry]

He wasn't kidding, very good explanation. Thanks! };O)

[mwyounce]

The Hattiesburg American will begin posting results at 7pm CT here:

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/election2003/election2003.html

[mwyounce]

Clarion Ledger cartoon...

[afuturegovernor]

August 6, 2003

Musgrove captures Democratic nomination; Barbour leads Republican primary


By Emily Wagster Pettus
The Associated Press

Gov. Ronnie Musgrove easily defeated four obscure opponents in today's Democratic primary, and former Republican National Committee Chairman Haley Barbour was leading his lone opponent in the GOP race.
Musgrove and Barbour have raised more than $5 million each in their campaigns to lead one of the nation's poorest states.
Kentucky and Louisiana are the only other states with regularly scheduled governor's races this year. In California, Democratic Gov. Gray Davis faces a recall election in October, unless his supporters succeed in delaying the vote until March.

Seeking momentum before the 2004 presidential race, the national parties are pumping money into the Mississippi contest.

Barbour, 55, a close ally of President Bush, has received $1.5 million from the Republican Governors Association. He is a longtime Republican power broker who oversaw the national party when Republicans won control of Congress in 1994.

The state GOP is eager to seat a governor. Kirk Fordice, who served from 1992 to 2000, was the only Republican elected governor of Mississippi since Reconstruction.

Musgrove, 47, is known for signing bills before dawn, and traveling to small towns to hand-deliver checks for projects such as sewer improvements. He has received $1 million from the Democratic Governors Association.

Voters also were choosing nominees in high-profile races for lieutenant governor, state treasurer and other offices.

Early returns tonight showed Musgrove with 70 percent of the vote in his race, and Barbour with 87 percent in the GOP primary. A simple majority is needed for nomination.

After the primaries, Musgrove and Barbour plan to ratchet up well financed campaigns to convince voters that they know how to lift Mississippi out of economic doldrums.

Musgrove boasts that under his watch, the state approved its largest teacher pay raise package and landed a Nissan manufacturing plant. After voting in early Panola County, he spent part of election day shaking hands with voters at Jackson precincts.

"There couldn't be a clearer choice in November's general election," Musgrove said Tuesday. "As governor, I've focused on good schools and good jobs, better test scores and attracting new businesses like Nissan to our state. I've put Mississippi first. Haley Barbour has spent the last 20 years in Washington, D.C., putting special interests first."

Barbour, Republican national chairman from 1993 to 1997, said Musgrove has not faced up to Mississippi's problems, including a lagging economy and underfunded universities. Barbour voted early Tuesday in his hometown of Yazoo City, then spent the day visiting predominantly Republican areas in and around Jackson.

"It was very positive, very friendly," Barbour said. "I feel like we'll have a big turnout, probably a record (Republican) turnout. That's good for me."

Musgrove faced four little known Democrats on Tuesday — Gilbert Fountain of D'Iberville, Elder McClendon of Hattiesburg, Katie Perrone of Gulfport and Catherine Starr of Hattiesburg.

Barbour faced trial lawyer Mitch Tyner of Jackson, who had contributed to Musgrove's 1999 campaign. Tyner said he ran as a Republican because he was unhappy with the job Musgrove has done. Tyner has hammered Barbour as a high-paid Washington "fat cat" who's out of touch with Mississippians.

[WKB]

Haley up by 80\20%

[WKB]

Make that 87\13

[NerdDad]

Another site reporting numbers:
http://www.wtva.com/pages/results.shtml

WTVA announced that Musgore was declared winner in Dim race with 2% of votes counted.
They are still showing the Repub race at 80/20.

If you guys want something to really flip you out, check out the website for one of the Lowndes County Republican Sheriff candidates--Shane Ballard. He's pulling 8% of the vote right now. Unbelievable.
http://myweb.cableone.net/jonestownbunker/

[Consort]

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