If Lott retires, what are our chances of a pickup in Mississippi?

[Hippo_Tron]

I've heard that Congressman Gene Taylor might run but I don't know anything about him.

[demosincebirth]

1. I think the chances are zero. Someone know something I don't?

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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[shraby]

3. Unless they change the voting machines

no Dem is going to win.

[Maddy McCall]

8. We hand mark our ballots where I live.

And ballots are counted by hand in public. What's wrong with that?

[gneissgrl]

14. We hand mark ours here too

[newyawker99]

16. Hi gneissgrl!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Maddy McCall]

6. Actually, there's a good chance that a Dem could win.

But then I'd never thought that California would elect Republican Arnold.

[indianablue]

4. states like Mississippi are beyond hope....

my state is not much better though in fact the entire country is almost beyond hope.

[Maddy McCall]

7. Beyond hope in state elections? Hardly.

Look at the ratio of Dem to Republican elected state representatives in Mississippi. How can you say that it's beyond hope? You'd have to have a working knowledge of Mississippi politics to understand that it isn't beyond hope.

[sd_UDO]

10. Try UDO then!

See my blog!

Cool!

[Maddy McCall]

5. Mike Moore's name is being thrown around as a Gov or Sen candidate

Moore could beat any Republican.

[TacticalPeek]

9. That's the truth.

Taylor and a few others would also stand a good chance. Barbour is not making the way easy for the next R in a statewide election, IMHO.

[BamaLefty]

13. I Believe That Mississippi

has a better chance than my state. The African-American and Native American population is higher.

[Blue Dawg]

20. Moore in 06, failing that 07...

He's about the only Dem who could do it, but does he want it?

If Lott retired then i think Moore would not only stand a good chance he'd have the edge, against Lott he could make it competitive but he'd probably lose.

Now in a Governors race, in an off year election like it'll be in 2007 with his record as AG, he'd win by a clear margin, I never understood why he let Musgrove have the nomination back in 1999 :(

But I should stress that Moore is about the only candidate who could manage it, but only if he wanted to and he’s not held office for two years or more now… I sincerely hope he runs for senate where Lott to retire or failing that (and I think the old * will stick around for another term) he should run for Governor as Barbour would be toast against a strong democrat like Moore.

[ProgressiveConn]

11. Oprah?

Oprah is from Mississippi yes? Does she still meet the residency requirements? How would she do in the 2006 Mississippi Senate Race? Maybe there should be a Draft Oprah for Senator campaign. =)

[merh]

12. Oprah is too rich and comfortable to run for office.

She has no desires to hold office, it is too much work.

[Sgent]

15. IMHO

Wicker would probably be the one "selected" by the Republicans to run if Lott retires. Besides getting 80%+ of the vote, his district is very, very safe for the republicans so someone like Nunnlee could step into it.

Barber may want it, but too many people in this state (esp. the doctors) can't stand him after the last two years of disaster. The doctor's elected him, and can't wait to get him out. The "right" democrat could also win -- Mabus might have a chance, and certainly Mike Moore.

I could also see Dale (the insurance commissioner) being competitive for a govenor or Senate run.

[No Michael Savage]

17. I hate to be a downer

But I agree, I don't think Mississippi will elect a democrat for the US Senate in 2006, though it would be nice.

[HeeBGBz]

18. I'll be moving to Mississippi in July

Add one more blue vote.

[Selatius]

19. I'm not sure about the US Senate

But I would say the Democrats happen to be stronger at the local level. It's funny because it seems as if Mississippians are okay with voting for Dems at the local level, but at the national level, they tend to vote more Republican.

[jackbourassa]

21. A lot of defeatists in Mississippi

You know what's wrong with you people? What about some positive attitudes. Maybe we win, maybe we lose. BUT WE FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT.

No retreat. No surrender. You sound like a bunch of DLC defeatists.

Issues to fight Lott on:

1) Corruption and deficit.

2) The War in Iraq.

We get a strong candidate. We get a strong showing among our base (African Americans - a lot of them in MISS). We can win.

[tahoedenver]

22. There won't be a democrat senator in Mississippi until....

blacks take over in population as the majority of the state. Not trying to sound racist but it's just true.

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

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[tahoedenver]

24. I go 2 Mississippi State right now

Let me tell you something, blacks are making one hell of a come back. They are at least a third of the state and more are moving back from the North every year. It's crazy. They'll be the majority here in 20 years according to my geography professor.

[newyawker99]

25. Hi Bradley Fitzbradley!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

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[TNC4DNC]

27. Population change = political change?

That is true to an extent, blacks becoming more numerous in the state certainly will help Democratic hopefuls, because we historically vote Democratic, but I don't think you can rely on purely a majority population to tip the tables. Many blacks still stay home from voting unfortunately, so you would still have that issue. Democrats also now have the issue of election day fraud, suppression, etc., which could easily come to effect Mississippi as it has Ohio and Florida already. The Reptilicans aren't going to let go of their power easily, NOT AT ALL. They know they have the upperhand all over the South, and they will do whatever it takes to keep that power, whether or not they are in the minortiy in a certain district/state or not. So, the best thing to do I think is for the white and black Democrats to continue to be united, especially on economic issues, and try to gain converts, while working to reach higher goals with each succeeding election in voter turnout, and trying their best to keep the election clean and fair, bring national attention to it if it is not.