Free Republic

The difference for races in the coming weeks may come between open and closed primaries. An open primary means anyone can go into and vote in any party primary. A closed party means only registered party voters can vote in that party's primary. So far establishment party voters in closed primaries favor Senator Ted Cruz. Open primaries are going to Donald Trump. The Florida primary in two weeks is closed, which might favor Senator Marco Rubio. But polling shows Trump with a big lead there already.

Sarah Palin and right-wing Republicans are calling "shenanigans" over the Mississippi U.S. Senate race this week. (Full disclosure: Whenever someone uses that hokey phrase, I chuckle and think of the "South Park" episode when third-graders denounced ripoffs at a local carnival). Anyway, here's what happened in the Magnolia State, which isn't quite as funny. Establishment GOP U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran bucked the odds and history after a narrow primary loss to Tea Party favorite Chris McDaniel. On Tuesday, the six-term incumbent edged McDaniel in a runoff, buoyed by heavy turnout from African-Americans. The Cochran campaign openly courted these traditionally Democratic...

When To Start Watching: Polls will close for the Louisiana Republican primary at 8 p.m. CDT (9 p.m. EDT). Results will begin to come in around 8:30 p.m. CDT. What's At Stake: Twenty of the state's 46 delegates are up for grabs Saturday, divided proportionately among all candidates who receive more than 25 percent of the vote in the state. Louisiana hosts a closed primary, meaning only registered Republicans may vote for the four candidates in the GOP contest.

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A federal judge says Mississippi must have a party registration system and voter I-D laws in place by the summer of 2008. U-S District Judge W- Allen Pepper says political parties have a right to stop non-party members from voting in their primary elections. The lawsuit was filed in 2006 by plaintiffs wanting to stop non-Democrats from voting in Democratic primary elections. Pepper says ruling applies to all party primaries in Mississippi. Pepper's ruling was issued late yesterday (Friday). Plaintiffs attorney Ellis Turnage of Cleveland and Attorney General Jim Hood could not be reached for comment....