NEWS

Will there be a Hosemann-Reeves lt. gov battle?

Geoff Pender
The Clarion-Ledger

Publicly he’s only dropped cryptic hints, but Mississippi politicos far and wide are reporting that Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann is seriously considering a 2015 run at lieutenant governor against fellow Republican incumbent Tate Reeves.

In what promises otherwise to be a boring state election cycle, with other top of ticket incumbents staying put, this would be the race to watch. And, it would create a domino effect, some down-ticket jockeying.

And boy, howdy, does it already appear to have the GOP establishment illuminati in a tizzy. I got off-the-record earfuls from several on both sides. Hosemann running for lite guv is either a stroke of political genius or the dumbest, meanest move in the history of Mississippi Republicanism, and no in between.

The potential battle appears to be as much about 2019 gubernatorial fear and loathing as current lieutenant gubernatorial issues. I’ve seen no indication Gov. Phil Bryant has entered the fray — and he might be wise to stay out of this one. He and Reeves after a rough couple of years appear to have reached peace, or at least detente. They say all sorts of nice things about each other these days.

But some Bryant political operatives and supporters openly fought against Reeves in his first bid for lieutenant governor, and Reeves is known to have a long memory about such things. Some of those pushing Hosemann to run appear to fear they might have to get real jobs come 2019 if Reeves ascends to governor.

It’s hard to fathom there would be much policy difference between the two Republicans, Hosemann and Reeves.

And they’re both extremely smart, both ambitious, both stubborn as mules (don’t tell them I said that) and both masterful campaigners who don’t mind rough-and-tumble hardball politics.

The tea party branch of the GOP would probably have to flip a coin to determine which they dislike more. Reeves has kept tea party favorite Sen. Chris McDaniel in time out in the Legislature. Hosemann drew tea party ire in McDaniel’s legal battle over his loss to incumbent U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran.

As one politico put it, Hosemann vs. Reeves campaign ad themes might be: “A lot of people don’t like you” and, “Yeah, well, a lot of people don’t like you, either.”

Reeves is a better fundraiser. Hosemann is a better campaigner and stumper. Questioning whether one or the other has significantly more name recognition brings lengthy diatribes from their supporters, and references to secret internal polls.

Some Republican leaders don’t relish the thought of another internecine battle that could split the party, on the heels of the Cochran-McDaniel rip. They lament the prospect of two top-ticket Republicans hatin’ on each other and spending $4 million to $8 million trying to brand each other a buffoon, money that could otherwise help gain GOP seats in the Legislature.

But others say that with the sleepy Democratic Yellow Dog no longer chasing many rabbits, fierce state GOP primaries are here to stay, get over it.

Such a battle could create an opening for a third, tea party-backed candidate, such as McDaniel. Some are saying he might enter the race regardless of what Hosemann does. With the tea party flush on fervor but short on funds, having two establishment Republicans beat on each other could help a third primary candidate.

Less likely -- but possible -- a Reeves-Hosemann contest, if it got nasty enough, could create an opening for a Democratic candidate in the general.

Regardless, Hosemann’s decision will be a watershed for Mississippi politics. Stay tuned.

Contact Geoff Pender at (601) 961-7266 or gpender@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @GeoffPender on Twitter.