****************************************************
Magnolia Political Report #49
November 4, 2003
ELECTION DAY – DON’T FORGET TO VOTE!!!
****************************************************

Latest Polls
The race for governor looks like it will come down to the wire. GOP nominee Barbour has held a slim lead in most polls, but it’s too close to call. Lieutenant Governor Amy Tuck has a bit more breathing room in her re-election effort. Candidates for AG are both well under 50 percent, though Jim Hood holds a lead in the polls. The race for Treasurer is tight, with Republican Tate Reeves slightly leading.

Turnout is a huge factor in the race for Governor and Treasurer. Whichever gubernatorial candidate does a better job getting their supporters to the polls will probably win, and they’ll most likely bring their party’s nominee for Treasurer along with them.

Pickering Vote
By a vote of 54 - 43, the Senate failed to close debate (60 votes are needed for cloture) on the nomination of Judge Charles Pickering to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Pickering’s nomination has been stalled by Senate Democrats for over a year.

Democrats accused the GOP of timing the vote to coincide with elections this year in Mississippi. It could have repercussions for the Dems if Mississippi voters decide to take their frustrations at Democrats nationally on Democrats in the state.

Bush Visit
In case you didn’t notice, President George W. Bush visited the Magnolia State twice Saturday to stump for Haley Barbour and other GOP candidates. Bush may have persuaded a few last minute undecideds, but the main reason for his visits was to energize the GOP faithful for Election Day. Reportedly about 7,000 people attended a DeSoto County rally and another 3,000 attended one in Gulfport.

Remarks by the President at Desoto County, Mississippi

Crashing the Party
A visit by the President always draws heavy media attention, but this one got more than its fair share. Near the end of the DeSoto County rally, a woman with her three children in the car rammed the DeSoto Civic Center where Bush was speaking. She was quickly swarmed by law enforcement officers who whisked her off to the DeSoto Detention Center.

Amy Tuck security guard Arthur Johnson, was among the law enforcement who helped apprehend the woman. He got a thumbs up from the President as he drove away from the event. It was the second time this year he’s been “Johnny on the spot.” Earlier this year, Johnson had to wrestle an airplane door closed when the door slung open at several thousand feet.

The event made national headlines, landing above the banner on the Drudge Report and leading many of the national newscasts. As it turned out, the woman never intended to harm the President, and no federal charges will be filed.

Musgrove gives national Dem address
The day President Bush was in Mississippi, Governor Musgrove delivered the Democrats radio response to the President’s weekly radio address. Musgrove used the occasion to talk about his record on education and jobs.

Endorsements
Newspapers around the state have weighed in with their choices for governor. They probably don’t influence a lot of voters, but taken in total they shed light on where popular opinion is headed.

Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal
Barbour

Hattiesburg American
Barbour

Tuck

Clarion Ledger
Musgrove, Tuck

Greenwood Commonwealth
Musgrove

Tuck

Natchez Democrat
Barbour, Tuck

Scott County Times
Barbour, Tuck

Mississippi Link
Musgrove, Blackmon

Meridian Star
Barbour

Tuck

Sun Herald
Barbour, Tuck

Robert Williams gets out of jail
Former Jackson City Councilman Robert Williams was released from prison yesterday after serving two years for extortion and bribery and charges resulting from an FBI investigation of the City Council.

Last Minute Fundraising
Democrat Treasurer nominee got a last minute influx of cash, primarily from trial lawyers, in the final days of the election. Last Friday, Anderson filed 48-hour notices to report receiving $60,000 in late contributions. Over $40,000 came from a few well-know Mississippi trial lawyers. Dickie Scruggs kicked-in $25,000 and Will Colom of Columbus added $10,000. Victor McTeer of Greenville gave Anderson $5,000, and Crimes Pittman gave $2,000.

Clayton Henderson
Representative Clayton Henderson passed away Thursday from heart failure. Henderson had served in the Mississippi House of Representatives since 1980. He was noted as a low-key but respected lawmaker.

Both the Democrat and Republican state parties were offered the chance to place candidate names on the ballot. State Dems offered Henderson’s sister, Clara Henderson Burnett, for the post. The GOP did not select a candidate, assuring Burnett of a four-year term.

Gunn – Barbour
Philip Gunn of Clinton will square off Tuesday with Paige Eaves Gill for the right to represent House District 56. The Republican nominee had been in limbo since the primary when incumbent Representative Jep Barbour narrowly edged-out Gunn. After voters in two precincts claimed they were disenfranchised, a revote was ordered in the precincts. The extra votes were more than enough to put Gunn over the top. Barbour contested the revote, but his plea was turned down by the Mississippi Supreme Court.

Constitutional Amendment
Most voters will probably be surprised to see a constitutional amendment on their ballots. If approved, the measure will change the way Mississippi selects College Board appointments. Currently, 7 College Board appointments are based on Mississippi’s 1944 congressional districting when Mississippi had 7 representatives in Congress. Two College Board members are selected at-large from the state and another three are appointed from the state’s Supreme Court districts.

The proposed plan would select four College Board members from each of the state’s three Supreme Court districts. Proponents of the amendment say it will bring more fairness to the system. Opponents say the current system works just fine and that the new one would give politics a greater role in College Board appointments.

Election Night Parties
Barbour Clarion Hotel – 400 Greymont Avenue

Musgrove Old Capitol Inn – North State Street

Blackmon Blackmon Campaign HQ – 445 North Lamar Street

Tuck Crowne Plaza Hotel – Corner of Lamar and Amite

Hood Edison Walthall Hotel – Capitol Street

Newton Newton Campaign HQ – 715 Pear Orchard Road

Anderson Hal and Mal’s – 200 Commerce Street

Reeves Edison Walthall Hotel – Capitol Street

Races to Watch
Senate
Competitive races with no incumbent

SD 15 – Starkville region
Gary Jackson – R
Cecil Simmon – D

SD 17 – Lowndes County
Terry Brown – R
David Shelton – D
Joe Studdard – I

SD 22 – Greenville/ Delta
Mala Brooks – D
Buck Clarke – R
Mark Crawford – I

SD 35 – Rankin and Simpson Counties
Perry Lee – R
Daniel Ware – D

SD 40 – Pearl River County
Sid Albritton – R
Ann Simmons – D

SD 42 – Jones County
Randy Ellzey – D
Stacey Pickering – R

SD 45 – Forrest County
Ed Morgan – R
Ray Price – D

Incumbent Democrats with competitive races
SD 7 – Northeast Mississippi
Chris Brown – R
Hob Bryan – D

SD 8 – Oxford area
Pat Lamar – R
Gray Tollsion – D

SD 18 – Leake, Neshoba, Winston Counties
Don Fulton – R
Gloria Williamson – D

SD 46 – Gulf Coast
Scottie Cuevas – D
Harry Ward – R

SD 47 – Gulf Coast
Ezell Lee – D
Joseph Seymour – R

SD 48 – Gulf Coast
Robert Bass – R
Debbie Dawkins – D

Incumbent Republicans with competitive races
SD 5 – Northeast Mississippi
Charles Walden – R
J.P. Wilemon – D

SD 14 – Delta
Mark Ivey Burton – D
Bunky Huggins – R

SD 23 – Vicksburg area
Mike Chaney – R
Marcie Tanner Southerland – D

SD 29 – Hinds County
Dewayne Thomas – D
Richard White – R

SD 43 – Southeast Mississippi
Tommy Dickerson – R
Shannon Walley – D

SD 51 – Gulf Coast
Tommy Robertson – R
Ray Vecchio – D

After last year’s special session on civil justice reform, trial lawyers and business interest are fighting over a few Senate seats. Trial lawyers are taking out their frustrations on a few incumbents while pro-business groups are battling to hold their philosophical majority in the Senate.

The top races where trial lawyers and business groups are battling it out are listed below. In each of these races the Republican effectively represents the pro-business interests and the Democrat is backed by plaintiff attorneys.

SD 8
Pat Lamar – R
Gray Tollsion – D

SD 18
Don Fulton – R
Gloria Williamson – D

SD 23
Mike Chaney – R
Marcie Tanner Southerland – D

SD 29
Dewayne Thomas – D
Richard White – R

SD 48
Robert Bass – R
Debbie Dawkins – D

SD 51
Tommy Robertson – R
Ray Vecchio – D

House races
Competitive races with no incumbent

HD 17 – Lee and Prentiss Counties
Jerry Turner – R
Christy Antillon-Webb – D

HD 18 – Lee County
Brian Aldridge – R
Kelly Mims – D

HD 23 – Calhoun County
Jim Beckett – R
Steve Whitten – D

HD 35 – Choctaw and Webster Counties
Pete Powell – D
Dannie Reed – R

HD 44 – Neshoba County
Kirk Morgan – R
Scott Bounds – D

HD 56 – Clinton/ Yazoo County
Philip Gunn – R
Paige Eaves Gill – D

HD 75 – Scott County
Tracy Arinder – D
Frank Herring – R

HD 95 – Gulf Coast
Jessica Upshaw – R
Linda Johnson – D

HD 97 – Southwest Mississippi
Derrick Dahl – D
Sam Mims – R

HD 100 – Southwest Mississippi
Virginia Carlton – R
Ken Morgan – D

HD 107 – Southeast Mississippi
Tom Bailey – R
Deryk Parker – D

Incumbent Democrats with competitive races

HD 19 – Northeast Mississippi
Jamie Franks – D
Jeremy Martin – R

HD 25 – North Delta/ DeSoto County
John Mayo – D
Ross Ose – R

HD 12 – Oxford
Jay Eads – D
Noal Akins – R

HD 15 – Pontotoc County
Pat Montgomery – D
Jeffrey Waldo – R

HD 53 – Lincoln County area
Bobby Moak – D
Richard Baker – R

HD 88 – Jones County
Joe Ellzey – D
Gary Staples – R

HD 90 – South Mississippi
Joe Warren – D
Gaines Reynolds – R

HD 93 – South Mississippi/ Coast
Dirk Dedeaux – D
Rico Lee – R

Incumbent Republicans with competitive races
NONE

Advertisements