Talking About Sexy

I’m not interested in the governor’s race. We know who the party nominees are, we know what rhetorical moves are going to be made, and this comes down to a matter of execution. We all know Barbour’s numbers are good, but not impervious. It’s common currency that any democrat running in Mississippi starts out with something like 47%. I take significant issue with that number, but couple the real number ( about 38% ) with Barbour’s personal negatives and you’re within striking distance. Doable. The only question that remains is “ can Eaves put together the campaign to pull it off?” It’s a numbers game and ultimately it’s just not very sexy.

The Lt.Gov race is where all the action is at. There are so many questions up in the air, both in the primary and in the general. I’ve personally lost sleep wondering whether or not GHB is really backing Ross. The fact that there is a Barbour is running Ross’s political outfit makes me wonder. But Henry Barbour has said that he thinks Ross doesn’t have the muscle to get the nomination (that’s not a quote, it’s paraphrasing from something he said in a classroom appearance). Deft maneuvering, surprising fundraising successes, old friendships, partnerships, and debts to be called in. And that’s before you even get to the general. Ross and Franks were desk mates in the House, and some of Franks’ biggest supporters and contributors are folks close to the various real estate entities who are making investments in Bryant. This is the race you make a soap opera out of.

And the Lt. Gov race is the lynchpin to the state wide ticket. In the event that Eaves can’t get traction, Franks has to tie the Republican nominee in knots to keep the Republicans from snowballing the whole ticket and taking legitimate control of both houses. If the Lt. Gov race doesn’t make, we’ll wake up on Wednesday with Jim Hood as the only Democratic statewide official in Mississippi and Billy McCoy returning to an aisle seat in the fifth row of the House Chamber.

There are real consequences, serious decisions, and a lot left up in the air. The traditional wisdom is that the Lt. Gov and Speaker are the most influential positions in the state. I’m going to lose a lot of sleep and love every minute of it.