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The Magnolia Political Report for December 4, 2001

Magnolia Report 12

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Magnolia Report December 4, 2001
(Number 12) - E-mail Version
www.MagnoliaReport.com

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Ticket to Ride
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There is some talk of the top two slots for 2003 being run unofficially on tickets. If so, this would be a new development in Mississippi politics and an indicator that the state has truly arrived in terms of partisan competition. If you remember in 1999, tickets were nowhere in the picture. While the official Republican Party Line presented a GOP slate, the Parker Campaign for Governor and Hawks Campaign for Lieutenant Governor were not close and targeted separate constituencies. Much the same can be said for the Musgrove Campaign for Governor and Tuck Campaign for Lieutenant Governor. For example, Musgrove (Dem) and Hawks (GOP) earned endorsements from the Mississippi Association of Educators, while Parker (GOP) and Tuck (Dem) dismissed those endorsements. In many areas, sample ballots being handed out as well as yard signs being posted by groups were encouraging Musgrove and Hawks; or Parker and Tuck.

If there is a move toward a ticket direction for the top two offices, don't expect it to result from greater party unity, rather greater primary battles.

Some of the rumors include a Democrat run of Musgrove-Shows (if Congressman Ronnie Shows does not get the congressional district he desires); and a Republican run of Barbour-Tuck. Such a run would assume that Tuck would switch parties which also likely assumes the GOP leadership would clear her path for her. But there are rumors that a GOPer active in the Fordice Administration may also be interested in the number two slot.

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Hits to Magnolia Report Web Page
November 19 to December 3: 14,398
Since Launch (July 6): 127,769
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Round-up and Quick Notes
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Special elections will be held today in Hattiesburg and Canton. Hattiesburg voters are casting ballots on a controversial school bond issue. Canton's Ward 3 voters will choose an alderman to fill the vacated seat of Charles Weems who was appointed Madison County Chancery Clerk but lost in last month's special elections. Candidates in the race are Leon Collier, S.K. Desai, Roby Harris and Edward Thompson.

Rumors are floating that Kenneth Coleman, Third District Circuit Court Judge (Benton, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Lafayette, Marshall, Tippah and Union Counties) will be resigning soon giving Governor Ronnie Musgrove another judicial appointment. One of the names being tossed about as a possible Musgrove choice is trial lawyer Andy Howorth, brother of Oxford Mayor Richard Howorth.

At the latest Republican "Meet the Chairman Fundraiser" held in Meridian, Mayor John Robert Smith introduced GOP Chairman Jim Herring, but sounded as much like a candidate as a host. Rumors continue to circulate about his interests beyond Lauderdale County. Congressman Chip Pickering and Senator Thad Cochran both made conference calls to the gathering. Chip Reynolds, formerly a Trent Lott aid and currently special assistant to the chairman introduced the call from Cochran by saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, the senior senator from Mississippi, Thad Cochran." Cochran said that was the shortest introduction he had ever had to which Reynolds replied, "Well Senator, I'm a short man." The event raised around $20,000. Herring also made trips to visit activists n Grenada and on the Coast in the past couple of weeks.

Former Highway Commissioner Herschel Jumper of Booneville died in November.

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Racing for 2003
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Ronnie Musgrove's toughest opponent in the 1999 Democrat Primary was former State Supreme Court Jim Roberts of Pontotoc. But Musgrove almost faced instead a campaign by Hattiesburg native State Supreme Court Ed Pittman. After carefully studying the possibility of running, Pittman finally decided against such a move. However, anyone watching the reform minded policies of the courts, and the positive press associated with Pittman's leadership on these issues, might think Pittman is preparing for a race in 2003. Such as yet to be seen and like 1999, we may not know until the qualifying deadline day.

Last Friday night, Republicans on the Coast gathered in Diamond Head for the Hancock Republican Party Christmas Party. Bill Hawks spoke to the crowd, with many suggesting he has not ruled out a campaign in 2003. Dave Dennis, rumored to be a Republican candidate for governor in 2003, also attended the event. The night before, Dennis spoke to the Ole Miss College Republicans and stressed to them the responsibility of leadership and acting out life based on your principles. Back in DeSoto County, a rumor is floating that former state representative and current Southaven Mayor Greg Davis (R) may enter the Lieutenant Governor's race, pending movements by Amy Tuck.

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Campaigns for Congress
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Republican attorney Chris Myrick of Jones County, a government relations consultant and former congressional aid in Washington DC, has made initial moves to challenge Democrat Gene Taylor for the Coast Congressional District.

A statement from the campaign of Clinton B. LeSueur, a Republican challenging Democrat Bennie Thompson for the Delta Congressional District, had the candidate at the city of Greenwood Christmas parade Friday afternoon, Itta Bena's Christmas parade Saturday morning, Christmas on Deer Creek in Leland on Saturday afternoon and as a guest of Democrat Mayor Paul Artman in the Greenville parade on Saturday as well. It also mentions he will be the keynote speaker at Greenwood High School's National Honor Society induction ceremony Wednesday Dec. 5. To date, his campaign lists endorsements from GOP 2001 Jackson Mayoral nominee C. Daryl Neely, former MSGOP Chairman Mike Retzer, The Madison County Republican Women and Black America's Political Action Committee (BAMPAC).

The Mississippi Republican Party sent activists to Arkansas for the November 20, 2001 special election to fill the Third Congressional District seat vacated by Asa Hutchinson who was appointed to head the Drug Enforcement Agency. These activists assisted in GOTV, campaign rallies and making phone calls. The Republican candidate, John Boozman, won.

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Magnolia Report Poll
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Every two weeks, the Magnolia Report front page hosts a new poll. The past poll asked, "What is the 2003 political future of Amy Tuck?" A total of 249 people participated with the following results.

Run for Governor as Dem (31) 12%
Run for Governor as GOP (19) 7%
Run for Lt Gov as Dem (84) 33%
Run for Lt Gov as GOP (38) 15%
Lose in Dem Primary (64) 25%
Lose in GOP Primary (11) 4%
Other (2) 0%

The only "other" answer given was "lose in any race." Commentators argued about the future of Tuck in the Democrat Party. Thoughts included:

1) Kicking Tuck out of the party would be a political blunder. It will rally the GOP and Tuck will take most conservative and many moderate Demos w/her. 2) I'm a Republican who supported Hawks in '99, but I'll support Amy Tuck next time no matter what office she runs for or what party she's a member of. 3) The liberal, left wing, and even racist blacks that now run the Democratic Party have already made the decision for her...she has to switch. 4) If she does switch, it will be because the Dems kicked her out, not because she wanted to leave. 5) Tuck will discover that there is no room for conservatives in the new Democratic Party.

Thanks for voting and writing. The current poll up asks " What stage of Mississippi politics is least beneficial to citizens?" Vote today.

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Upcoming Events
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==December 4 (Tuesday)==
Special Election, Canton, Ward 2 Alderman
==December 6 (Thursday)==
Madison County Republican Party
Fundraiser featuring Senator Thad Cochran
Annandale Golf Club: Madison, 6:30pm-11:00pm
==December 7 (Friday)==
First Mother Barbara Bush in Jackson, Mississippi for Girls and Boys Club Fundraiser
==December 13 (Thursday)==
MSGOP United Republican Fund Holiday Party
Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, Jackson: 6-8:30pm
==December 15 (Saturday)==
MS Association of Central Labor Council Meeting
Jackson, Mississippi
===2002 ===
==January 19 (Saturday)==
14th Annual Candlelight Vigil for the Unborn
6-7pm: First Floor Rotunda of the State Capitol
==January 21 (Monday)==
Rankin County Republican Banquet; 6:30 pm
Guest Speaker: Haley Barbour
==February 18 (Monday)==
DeSoto County Republican Party's "President's Day" Dinner
7:00pm at the DeSoto Civic Center on I-55 in Southaven
Guest Speaker: Haley Barbour

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Final Words
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"State Sen. Terry Burton of Newton said he saw Norwood, Musgrove and Musgrove's two children step off the elevator on the skybox level and walk to a skybox whose occupants included Ole Miss Chancellor Robert Khayat, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor Andy Mullins and a number of other university and state officials." - Sid Salter and Sekou Smith, Clarion Ledger: November 30, 2001

"We went to a bunch of skyboxes. I met the president (Khayat) and a whole bunch of people. We were just up there having a good time and trying to watch the game." - Jerious Norwood, November 30, 2001

"I think Jerious did meet the chancellor (Robert Khayat)," Musgrove said. "I know I didn't escort him into the skybox. Whether I introduced him to someone, I very well may have introduced him to somebody, I don't really remember." - Associated Press, December 3, 2001

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Magnolia Political Report, 2001
Brian Perry, Editor
www.magnoliareport.com
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© Magnolia Political Report 2001 • PO Box 24233 Jackson, Mississippi 39225
FAX 601.355.7885 • scoop@magnoliareport.com
Brian Perry, Editor