Jackson Jambalaya

Republican Grand Poobah Andy Taggart wrote on his Clarion-Ledger blog tonight:

"The volume of the complaints -- on both sides -- of the "Thad" post-card issue in the State Senate runoff between Will Longwitz and Charles Barbour rivals anything I have recently seen in a legislative race. It's really enough to make me wonder whether everyone is not protesting too much.

Charles Barbour's post card yesterday re-hashing the matter quoted an early draft of a blog post I wrote on the issue, and did not reflect the change I made in the permanent post and as the post was printed by the Clarion-Ledger edition. Moreover, the Barbour card was sent using my name but without my authorization, and after I had declined to give his campaign authorization to use my name in a radio ad.

As for the "Thad" card and the Longwitz campaign, I've been told that the card was a result of the innocent signing of individual cards by a volunteer in the Longwitz campaign, unknown to Will Longwitz himself.

Both the Barbour card and the Longwitz card are tactics that the campaigns have to live with. In NCAA regulations dealing with the oversight of university athletics, there is a concept known as "institutional control." It means the school is responsible for the actions of its boosters.

And campaigns are similarly responsible for the actions of their supporters, for good or for ill."

The Longwitz campaign issued the following press release:

CHARLES BARBOUR DRAWING WIDESPREAD CRITICISM FOR CONTINUED NEGATIVE ATTACKS ON WILL LONGWITZ

August 18, 2011—Charles Barbour has launched yet another deceptive negative attack to try to fool the people of District 25. First, as reported by the Madison County Journal today, Charles Barbour was told the truth about a postcard sent by Longwitz supporter Thad McLaurin, yet Charles Barbour continued to lie about both Longwitz and his volunteers. Barbour has inundated voters with multiple negative mailers over the past two weeks. Now, the latest mailer falsely attempts to connect Will Longwitz to President Barack Obama. The people of District 25 deserve better.

Will Longwitz has worked on Capitol Hill for Republican Congressman J.C. Watts. He worked on the presidential campaign of Bob Dole. He volunteered as an attorney for President George Bush's re-election campaign. He also worked on the Governor's Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding and Renewal after Hurricane Katrina. He has volunteered for Republican causes in Madison County, including efforts to register new voters and recruit new members to the Republican Party.

"I have worked for Republicans on Capitol Hill, and in Republican presidential campaigns," said attorney Longwitz of the mailer. "The very insinuation that I am somehow an Obama supporter is offensive to me, and it is offensive to the voters to treat them like they don't have the sense to know better."

Longtime Republican activist and former Mississippi GOP State Chairman Billy Powell said the mailer goes too far.

"I'm disappointed Charles is going so negative when everybody knows it's incorrect," said Powell. "Apparently, Will's opponent has no issues to run on other than negative attacks. To say Will Longwitz is anything other than a solid Republican is ridiculous."

Madison County resident and political activist Bill Billingsley had this to say: "Will Longwitz is as good a Republican as I have ever met. He has worked tirelessly for the Party, and we should thank him for that. We don’t have to put up with this nonsense. The solution is to get out Tuesday and vote for Will Longwitz."

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Will Longwitz is an active member of the Madison County Republican Party and the Madison County TEA Party. Working for Governor Haley Barbour’s Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding and Renewal, he helped Mississippi recover from its worst natural disaster, Hurricane Katrina. As a federal civil prosecutor, he has worked to fight fraud and protect people’s money. He has worked as an attorney for the State of Mississippi, helping to administer funds for rebuilding housing destroyed by the Hurricane Katrina. As a small business owner, Will understands what it means to make a small business run every day.

The Madison County Journal published a story that was downright funny:

"Accusations fly in heated senate race
By STEVEN G. WATSON
Associate Editor

MADISON - At a political forum five days before last week's primary election, Charles Barbour thanked Will Longwitz for running a clean campaign in the District 25 Senate race. It seems that was the last time either candidate had something nice to say about the other.

The race for District 25 has gotten heated in the last two weeks as Barbour and Longwitz trade barbs leading up to a runoff election Tuesday, Aug. 23. Neither received more than 50 percent of the vote in the Aug. 2 Republican primary.

From a debate over the candidates' NRA ratings (both received As), to arguments over basic semantics and even a rumor one has cancer, both camps are crying foul and the battle is being waged through mail outs and calls to voters.

Barbour says Longwitz started the fracas with a misleading mail out questioning his voting record as a Hinds County Supervisor.

Longwitz says Barbour should be held accountable for his voting record and that the questions are valid.

Barbour says Longwitz has a history of "sleazy politics" and misrepresents his qualifications.

Longwitz says Barbour is desperate and trying smear his name instead of talking about the issues.

The two are even arguing whether or not they had an agreement not to run negative campaigns.

And so it goes as the District 25 race, which along with races for sheriff and justice court judge, will highlight the runoff election in Madison County.

Barbour said the whole thing started with an "attack piece" mailed out to Northeast Jackson by the Longwitz camp the weekend before the primary.

The mailer calls into question Barbour's time as a Hinds County Supervisor, claiming he voted to "raid" the Hinds County E-911 fund and increase the county's debt.

Barbour said the accusations in the mail out are ridiculous and at best taken out of context.

"Saying 'raided' implies stealing and every financial transaction Hinds County makes is monitored by the State Auditor and Attorney General," Barbour said, explaining that any funds taken from the E-911 fund were later replaced as part of the budget process.

He also pointed to Hinds County's bond rating that was upgraded while he was on the board.

"The rating agencies had great confidence in what I did as a supervisor," Barbour said. "And I'm extremely proud of my record as a supervisor."

Longwitz denies that the mail out was dirty.

"We haven't done anything but state my opponent's voting record," he said. "The votes he took are bad for Hinds County and he should explain them."

Since the mail out, the Barbour camp fired back with calls in Madison County that Longwitz described as "push polls."

The calls assert that Longwitz lied about his rating with the NRA when he claimed to have the organization's top rating.

Longwitz received an "AQ" rating from the NRA, while Barbour received an "A." Both are not the highest rating given by the NRA, which is an "A+."

However, technically Longwitz's "AQ" rating is the top rating he can receive since he has never held public office and has no voting record.

Longwitz called the calls from Barbour's camp despicable and underhanded.

"The dirty and dishonest telephone push polls that they've brought into Madison County need to stop," he said. "That's dirty politics and Madison County doesn't want it.

"I'm going to continue talking about why I am the best candidate for this district," he continued. "I want to keep talking about jobs, economic growth and lower taxes. If my opponent wants to run a dirty campaign that's up to him."

Barbour would not apologize for the accusations about his opponents NRA rating.

"He lied about it," he said simply. "He claimed to be top rated and he's not."

Barbour went even further saying this type of thing is an example of how Longwitz "stretches the truth," noting the campaign he ran against Steve Ratcliffe in the 2010 Madison County Court Judge race.

"If you look at the sleaze he put out towards Ratcliffe he's done the same thing to me," Barbour said.

Longwitz, who garnered the majority of votes in the Aug. 2 primary, denies running a negative campaign and says his opponent is desperately trying to change the conversation from what it should be about.

"They know that the voters of this district have made their choice and all they can do is go dirty and negative," Longwitz said. "I'm talking about my ideas and my plans for this district. We're also talking about my opponent's record, if that's upsetting to him he should address it."

Along with all the finger-pointing Longwitz said they've even stooped to starting rumors or a "whisper campaign" claiming he has cancer, which he said was completely false.

Barbour outright denies starting any such rumors asking why he would want to give his opponent the "sympathy vote?"

The two are even arguing over whether an agreement was reached six months before the election not to run a negative campaign.

Barbour claims the two promised to concentrate on their own ideas and qualifications and not run negative things about each other.

"We had an agreement and I think it's fundamental to this argument that one of us has violated that agreement and led to all this unpleasantness," he said.

Longwitz denies there was ever any deal and again says all he is doing is talking about the issues and who is most qualified for District 25.

"I never talked to my opponent about any back room deal," Longwitz said. "If he believes there is one then he has broken it.

"The only deal I have with my opponent is the same deal I have with the voters of District 25, and that is to talk about how I would perform as their next state Senator," he added.

Longwitz is an attorney in private practice and lives in Madison. Barbour, a Jackson resident, is retired from the U.S. Military and is in real estate management.

Whoever wins the Republican nomination will face Democrat Cecilia Sampayo in the Nov. 8 General Election."

I read this story to a certain county GOP chairman last night over the phone and by the time we got through with it, we were both laughing so hard there might have been a small tremor in Jackson. How old are Charles and Will? 5? Make him stop touching me!! HE started it!!! No, HE started it!!! He's lying!! No, HE'S lying!!! HE started it!!! STOP TOUCHING ME!!! Waaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!

Message to both candidates: Both of y'all, KNOCK IT OFF!!!

August 8, 2011—Will Longwitz Campaign for Senate District 25 today called on his opponent, Charles Barbour, to immediately halt his campaign of negative push polling. The push poll has been reportedly conducted over the past two days. Those receiving the calls have been asked if they would vote for Longwitz if it was known that he lied about an NRA endorsement.

"To say I have misrepresented my rating from the NRA is ridiculous," said Longwitz. "It's clear as day to anyone that I received an 'A' rating from the NRA. I have a copy of the letter displayed on my website. Charles knows this. It's despicable that he would spend money to smear my name in such an underhanded way. I have been a very dedicated member of the Republican Party and the TEA Party, and stand very firmly behind all constitutional principles, including our Second Amendment rights."

The push poll reportedly also indicates that the two candidates agreed to not resort to negative campaigning.

"The only deal I have with my opponent is the same deal I have with the voters of District 25, and that is to talk about how I would perform as their next State Senator. I don't need to resort to back room political deals. Maybe that's how he does business, but I won't. I have a record of community service. The people I have had the pleasure of serving alongside know what I stand for. The voters should be allowed to look at those qualifications and elect the right man for the job without being inundated with these playground antics. Charles apparently wants to treat this as some sort of game. He should stop this nonsense now and start talking about his record and his ideas. I'm out talking with the voters about my record of service and the important issues like education funding, redistricting, and reducing government spending."

Time to review the campaign finance reports for Senate Districts 20 and 25.

Senate District #20

Pelahatchie Mayor Knox Ross raised $29,850 in July and $182,574 YTD. He reports cash on hand of $13,415. Mr. Ross donated $82,326 to his own campaign in 2011. Report. Josh Harkins raised $15,520 in July and $84,918 YTD. He reports cash on hand of $15,486. Tony Bahou, um, reported no money raised at all this year and cash on hand of $447. Steve Gaines raised $8,944 in July and $33,664 YTD. He reports $104 cash on hand. $17,794 of Mr. Gaines' contributions have come from Mr. Gaines himself. This race will be interesting as I think it will go to a runoff between Harkins and Ross.

Senate District #25

Good ole Charles Barbour raised $15,858 in July and $79,149 YTD. He reports cash on hand of $15,868. Significant contributions are Henry Michel $3,750, Henry Barbour $3,000, LeFlore Barbour $1,000, John McGowan $500, and $5,000 from the Creekmores. The campaign paid Clearwater Group (Austin Barbour) $6,000 to manage the campaign.
July 26 report, July 8 report

Will Longwitz raised $28,100 in July and $53,321 YTD. He reports $10,711 cash on hand. Significant donations came from I.P. Bruestler Trust $10,000, William Mounger $2,000, Will Longwitz $3,386. There were no significant expenditures. Report

Mr. Barbour has a clear lead in fund-raising but Mr. Longwitz raised enough money to win this race or at least get a strong message out to the voters. The race is a toss-up going into the final weekend before the primary.