Mississippi Democrats showed signs of political life in recent months after years of fielding candidates in congressional elections who could fairly be described as either noble ideologues or political sacrificial lambs.
The recent victory of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Doug Moore across the state line in Alabama fueled some Mississippi Democrats to conclude that ideological strains between Mississippi Republicans might well create openings for them in Mississippi in 2018.
Now officially past the first June primary elections, the partisan political landscape in Mississippi in the mid-term congressional elections doesn’t seem to have changed much despite the supposed influences of President Donald Trump, the so-called “#Me,Too” movement or the ongoing internecine social media wars between mainstream Republicans and the insurgent anti-establishment wing of the GOP.
Trump is still popular with the majority of Mississippi voters. Mississippians don’t endorse or approve of sexual mistreatment of women, but remain as vexed as the rest of the country about how to effectively stop it. And politically, the “#Me,Too” movement is a sword that cuts both ways.
Could Republican Roy Moore in Alabama and Democrat Al Franken be any farther apart on the political spectrum? But their political fates in the current political climate were virtually the same.
Republicans are still predicted to hold sway in both of the state’s U.S. Senate seats and in three of four U.S. House seats up for grabs in 2018.
What is different in 2018 is that Mississippi Democrats – not in every race, but overall - fielded more and better qualified candidates this time around. That was true in the Class 1 Mississippi U.S. Senate seat and it’s true in the Class II U.S. Senate race special election that won’t be decided until November.
In the Class 1 race, incumbent Republican senior U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker is widely considered to be holding a “safe” seat. His campaign has the benefit of the unequivocal support of the Trump White House, more than sufficient campaign finance resources, and an effective statewide organization.
The power of incumbency remains strong and Wicker has used it masterfully. Back to his initial U.S. Senate special election victory over Democrat Ronnie Musgrove in 2008, Wicker has been able to focus on the issues that were necessary to draw effective partisan distinctions even against well-financed and reputable Democratic opponents.
In the Class II special election, it’s important to note two things – first, Democrats have fielded a credible candidate in former Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy. Second, the seat is still considered either a “safe” or “likely safe” Republican seat by most national political prognosticators.
In the Class II race, candidates can run as Republicans and Democrats, but it’s a free-for-all in which the winner must take 50 percent-plus one vote to win outright, or see the top two vote-getters meet in a runoff two weeks later regardless of party affiliation.
The question for Mississippi voters is which Republican they will choose in the special election – incumbent appointed Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith of Brookhaven or Tea Party favorite state Sen. Chris McDaniel of Ellisville.
Espy represents the best hope Mississippi Democrats have in 2018 – and that hope rests on the belief that Mississippi Republicans are so divided in the battle between Hyde-Smith and McDaniel that Espy just might cobble together a coalition of Democrats who support him and Republicans who refuse to vote for the Republican special election survivor.
Since 1947, there have been three open U.S. Senate seats in Mississippi and Republicans have won the seats each time. The odds say history repeats itself.
Sid Salter is a syndicated columnist. Contact him at sidsalter@sidsalter.com.
12 comments:
Hey sid, it's Doug Jones in Alabama!
Thanks, Captain Obvious.
@9:02 Sid said "Doug Moore" in first paragraph
Just an observation. When I voted in my NE Jackson precinct yesterday afternoon, there was only one person manning the Republican table and one line for all names A - Z, and I was the only person who voted in that primary while there. Everyone else was voting Democrat and there were no people of color in that group. Yes, I realize these could be people strategically voting to help the Republican outcome in the long run, but if so, I've never seen it before.
Roger Wicker - Bringing jobs to Mississippi. Name one.
Meanwhile there's the truck driver, what's-his-name, who the Democrats 'fielded' in the last gubnor election.
Sid pics the easiest things to write about... Dems Face Uphill Battle... in Mississippi. REALLY???
Teats on a boar hog Wicker, God bless him and us. Stands on the bank of Mill Creek at the Rez in May 2017 and proclaims on camera (WJTV) that millions in federal funding to address problems in Mill Creek drainage basin is in the bag. And not one damn cent has been funded. And he tries to cover his own ass by having his office help blame the locals for not asking nicely. Well, Senator, it wasn't the locals who took advantage of a photo op along Mill Creek and ran their damn mouth about guaranteed federal funding. You failed to deliver on your own, personal promise to help.
Roger will win. Cindy will destroy both of her opponents as well. GOP goes up 56-44 om Senate
Yes the Rs will hold the Senate, but not the house. The Ds will be the pin sticking the Voodoo Doll in January.
Hyde-Smith and Wicker as Mississippi Senators. What's that say about us?
4:31...We recognize that Pelosi serves as your Viagra agent, but you can forget that nonsense you posted yesterday.
2:04 - so, you think the federal government should roll their personnel and equipment into Millcreek and do the work? Damn, I thought 99% of the residents of Millcreek didn't want the federal government intruding on a local government's jurisdiction.
All Wicker did was promise that there were federal funds available and designated for this project; in order to use those funds a local government has to "APPLY" for them, and then award a contract to construct the project.
Those are not the responsibility of a Senator, or Congressman. Frankly, I don't think a Senator or Congressman should be in the business of designating which projects get funded with those tax (or borrowed) dollars. But that ship has sailed and probably never will come back to port.
I'll be damned if I want to put the responsibility for local public works projects actual construction being taken from local elected officials and moved to the Potomoc. But I do understand folks like you that want to find something to bitch about on politicians you don't personally like. Next time, though, see if you can't get something a little more sensible.
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