I'm guessing but he may have been attracted to a lucrative "Halley Barbour Retirement Plan" that would come into play when he quits the Senate in 2015 or 2016 This would allow Barbour to effectively name his replacement.
That is so, so much better than an election. Elections are so, so unpredictable. You might even see a Tea Party guy or gal slip into this important post. We can't have that now can we? /sarc.
I don’t believe thad cochran has had a lucid moment in a long time. I believe Kay Webber is his handler and cares for him and keeps him out of trouble on these trips they take together and probably with the rest of the Senator’s staff report to haley or to BGR. haley’s personal senator. The plan was probably for Cochran to retire and have the governor appoint someone to replace him and run as the incumbent but Senator McDaniel got into the race and was off to a good start and the thought it best to have Cochran run and with his incumbency get re-elected and then retire. I believe it will happen if Cochran is allowed to take this election. I believe he will lose if he is indeed the nominee and the loss of a safe republican senate seat will be the fault of the NRSC, NRC, the Mississippi republican party and the barbours.