Republican Primary Results:

The Clarion Ledger:

President - GOP Primary
1680 of 1912 Precincts Reporting - 88%
Name Party Votes Vote %
McCain, John GOP 102,547 79%
Huckabee, Mike GOP 16,333 13%
Paul, Ron GOP 5,083 4%

People still want Huckabee. I understand. McCain doesn't really have that much going for him.

Even with only with one other active opponent Ron Paul still can't get past low single digits. His supporters are outspoken and yes, you do know every one of them.

U.S. House - District 1 - GOP Primary
450 of 462 Precincts Reporting - 97%
Max Runoff Cands=2
Name Party Votes Vote %
McCullough, Glenn GOP 16,768 39%
Davis, Greg GOP 15,961 37%
Russel, Randy GOP 10,540 24%

If I'd have voted in this race I would have voted for Randy Russel. He looks like a great man, even if I disagree with her politics. The runoff will be April 1st and I have no idea which of the other two will win. Any ideas?

U.S. House - District 3 - GOP Primary
491 of 565 Precincts Reporting - 87%
Max Runoff Cands=2
Name Party Votes Vote %
Ross, Charlie GOP 19,650 34%
Harper, Gregg GOP 16,493 28%
Landrum, David GOP 15,401 26%
Rounsaville, John GOP 5,734 10%

This one goes to a runoff too. If this holds then Gregg Harper owes John Rounsaville a bundle for his attack ads on Landrum. Landrum dropped fast and the only one making it happen was Rounsaville. One of his ads HERE

If the election had been held two weeks ago I would have pegged it Landrum and Ross (in that order) in a runoff. Money (in the absence of a vacuum) can't buy you love.

When Republicans Attack Republicans / Look Out Landrum

Congressman Pickering's choice to replace him is getting feisty.

John Rounsaville sent out a press release yesterday stating that David Landrum (who is the apparent frontrunner) hasn't bothered to vote in any election between November, 2000 and November, 2007. That's a pretty serious charge.

I wouldn't vote for a Democrat who hadn't taken the effort to vote in recent elections and I suspect many Republicans will feel the same way.

From the release:

At a candidate forum on February 11th in Noxapater, Mr. Landrum was asked by Scott Boyd, editor of the Macon Beacon about his $1,000 contribution to Ronnie Musgrove in the 2003 gubernatorial election. Mr. Landrum responded that he did indeed contribute to Mr. Musgrove’s campaign and that he voted for Haley Barbour.

That is simply not true.

David Landrum did not vote for Haley Barbour. He did not even bother to vote at all.

Rounsaville accuses Landrum of "boldfaced deceit" and says that "(Landrum) has no business asking to be our vote in the U.S. House of Representatives."

That's tough stuff.

In addition this video has surfaced attacking Landrum from one of the debates:

The text added is a little unfair at points. One example is that when he states gave Musgrove a contribution it was because friends encouraged him to because of tort reform. They think this point is invalid because the law was passed prior to the contribution. I don't see that as a contradiction.

The claws have come out, but with so little time before the election I wonder if all of this only helps Ross and not Rounsaville (or his campaign really) who I suspect put this little video together.

Thanks to AnnEllisSimmons for both.

David Landrum's Campaign Has The Big Bucks

The Clarion Ledger:

David Landrum, a businessman from Madison County, led his rivals in campaign fundraising at the end of the year, according to the latest reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Landrum is one of eight Republicans running for the 3rd Congressional District seat of retiring Republican Rep. Chip Pickering. He reported raising $519,268 with the help of a $200,000 personal loan to his campaign.

Half the GOP candidates for the 3rd District seat filed fundraising reports with the FEC. According to the latest FEC filings, Rankin County lawyer Gregg Harper raised $120,225; Air Force veteran Charlie Ross raised $117,149; and John Rounsaville, the former rural development director for the state's Department of Agriculture and Commerce, raised $145,845.

I was surprised to see this. When I heard that Landrum had raised over $500,000 I assumed about $500,000 was from himself.

What that means is that he still managed to raise $319,268, far more than his nearest rival.

Contributions (Cash On Hand)
Landrum
$519,268 ($244,360)
Gregg Harper
$120,225 ($99,610)
Charlie Ross
$117,149 ($100,683)
John Rounsaville
145,845 ($129,360)

Hat tip to Mississippi Political

David Landrum For Congress' Polling Memo

The David Landrum congressional campaign has sent this out to encourage supporters and donors:

MEMORANDUM

TO: LANDRUM FOR CONGRESS CAMPAIGN
FROM: ROB AUTRY
RE: MISSISSIPPI CD 3 SURVEY RESULTS - KEY FINDINGS
DATE: JANUARY 25, 2008

THE BOTTOM LINE
This survey data clearly shows that the Landrum Campaign has been very effective in getting David's message out to voters. As a result, David Landrum's favorables have increased five-fold and his ballot support has increased eight-fold. And, most importantly, the Republican primary ballot test shows a dead-heat race.

KEY FINDINGS
David Landrum has dramatically boosted his name identification and favorable image ratings over the past two months. Since mid-November, Landrum's favorables have increased from 7% to 36%. By comparison, none of the other candidates running have seen a significant image boost over the same period. Moreover, David Landrum has the best net favorable image rating of any of the Republican candidates running.

This race has quickly narrowed into a two candidate contest. David Landrum's higher name identification and boost in favorables have fueled a 21-point increase in his ballot support over the past two months. Landrum's vote increased eight-fold from 3% in November to 24% on this survey.

At the same time, Charlie Ross' vote has slipped from 37% in November to 30% now. Combined with Landrum's rise, Ross' lead on the Congressional ballot has all but evaporated from 30 plus points to just six points.

Landrum and Ross are the only two candidates to register double-digit ballot support. In fact, Gregg Harper is polling 7%, John Rounsaville is at 2%, and James Broadwater, Hardy Caraway, Gregory Hatcher, and Bill Macy all combine for an additional 2%.

Finally, Landrum is ahead on the ballot test by seven points (39% Landrum - 32% for Ross) among the 54% of voters who have heard from Landrum's campaign - further proof that the more voters hear about David and what he will do in Washington, the more likely they are to support him.

Public Opinion Strategies is pleased to present the key findings from a telephone survey among four hundred likely Republican primary voters in Mississippi's Third Congressional District. The survey was conducted January 21-22, 2008, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 %.

....

I do believe that it will be Landrum and Ross to the finish. Landrum has the personal funds to stay on TV through the general election if he wants to while Ross has the support of the Club for Growth which has never been shy about giving AND his currently superior name ID. It'll be interesting to watch.

I don't live in the district, but if Landrum has been on TV for a couple months, why have only half of Republican primary voters heard of him?

Stennis-Montgomery Association and Stennis Institute of Government To Host Debates

I don't know if any of the candidates have confirmed, but all the candidates for the open District 3 seat have been invited.

Here's the information available so far:

The Proposed Schedule

Wednesday, February 13, 7 p.m., Summit, MS (Fine Arts Building Auditorium at Southwest MS Community College, 1020 Lakeside Drive, Summit 39666)

Monday, February 18, 7 p.m., Rankin County, MS (Venue not confirmed)

Wednesday, February 20, 7 p.m., Meridian, MS (on campus of MSU-Meridian; venue not confirmed)

Monday, March 3, 7 p.m., Starkville, MS (on campus of MSU; venue not confirmed)

...

Political news? Send 'em if you've got 'em.

Door Hangers For Harper, Rounsaville and Landrum Campaigns

A Cotton Mouth reader e-mailed scans of 3 door hangers that have appeared on her door recently.

Gregg Harper's Door Card
Front Back

He wants you to know that he Gregg Harper, the Chairman of the Rankin County Republican Party, is in fact a Republican. He also wants you to know that he'll work to kick the brown people out of the country.

David Landrum's Door Card
Front Back

Notice the mistakes on the back.

"Funding and Implementation of the Missile Defense Sheild"

He needs to hire a spell checker.

Also under Honoring our Veterans he has four bullet points...but only three statements...the fourth bullet is blank. He must have Wicker Syndrome when it comes to veterans, he can only think of three things he can do for them.

John Rounsaville's Door Card
Front Back

Because he's young (comparably) and isn't as well known as the others he relies on nice quotes about him from Haley Barbour and Chip Pickering.

If you see any direct mail or door hangers or any campaign activity please e-mail us at cottonmouthblog at gmail dot com and share it with us. Thanks to our reader who sent these along!

2008 Candidates For Republican Nominations

THE CANDIDATES:

U.S. Senate (seat now held by Republican Thad Cochran)
• Thad Cochran

U.S. House, 1st District (open seat)
• Glenn McCullough
• Greg Davis
• Randy Russell

U.S. House, 2nd District (Democrat Bennie Thompson, incumbent)
• Richard Cook

U.S. House, 3rd District (open seat)
• Charlie Ross
• John Rounsaville
• James Broadwater
• Hardy Caraway
• Gregg Harper
• Gregory Hatcher
• David Landrum
• Bill Marcy

U.S. House, 4th District (Democrat Gene Taylor, incumbent)
• John McCay III

(Found on THIS Daily Kos Post)

Landrum Introduces A Soft Line Of Attack On His Opponents In This Ad

In an advertisement that costs this much money do know that every word was selected carefully and they chose to introduce a contrast.

"I'm not a lawyer, politician or a bureaucrat."

He's opening his line of contrast with the other strong contenders for the Republican nomination.

Greg Harper is an attorney. Charlie Ross recently ran for Lt. Governor and was a state senator (politician). John Rounsaville has worked as State Director of the USDA Rural Development Agency (bureaucrat).

"He has a lot of experience in life that doesn't come from a political career..."

I think his folks know that Ross should be considered the leader in this race. So he's focusing on how he's different from him without using his name.

In YouTube you "tag" videos with words so that when people search for those words they find that video. This video's tags include "Charlie," "Ross," "Greg," and "Harper."

AP Covers 1st District Race

Laurel Leader Call:

If you listen to Mississippi Democrats long enough, they’ll have you thinking a rising tide is going to sweep another member of their party to Capitol Hill.

They point to Democratic gains in the Mississippi Legislature and the Democrat-controlled Congress.

Certainly, they reason, voters in the state want to align themselves with the political majority in Washington, and ostensibly have more of a say in the nation’s policies through those they elect.

Mississippi has two open seats in the U.S. House. One in the state’s 1st District and the other in the 3rd District.

It would be a sucker’s bet that Democrats could win 3rd District since it encompasses a heavily Republican constituency.

That’s why Democrats are focusing on the 1st District.

Mississippi already has two Democratic congressmen — U.S. Reps. Bennie Thompson and Gene Taylor. The state’s Republican congressmen, U.S. Reps. Chip Pickering and Roger Wicker, are leaving their posts.

Pickering, who represents the 3rd District, announced that he wouldn’t seek re-election this year. Gov. Haley Barbour last week appointed Wicker, who represents the 1st District, to the seat left vacant with the retirement of U.S. Sen. Trent Lott, another Republican.

Wicker will serve until a special election is held Nov. 4, and then he’ll be a candidate in that election to serve out the remainder of Lott’s term, which runs through 2012.

Democrats see this as the optimal time to win back the 1st District, held by powerhouse Democrat Jamie Whitten for more than half a century before Wicker was elected in 1994.

First elected in 1941, Whitten reached the pinnacle of his influence in 1979, when he was selected by his colleagues as chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee. Whitten also chaired the House agricultural subcommittee.

The Democrats are banking on history to win a slice of the state’s congressional future. Never mind that the Republican Wicker has been re-elected six times in the north Mississippi region.

Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Dowdy, a former congressman himself, said the party would field “strong” candidates in the 1st District.

Potential Democratic contenders mentioned for the 1st District are state Rep. Steve Holland of Plantersville, former state Rep. Jamie Franks of Mooreville and Prentiss County chancery clerk Travis Childers of Booneville.

Republicans resolve to retain the district.

“It’s very important that we do maintain that as a Republican seat because this has national implications ... particularly in the House of Representatives where we want to regain control,” said Mississippi GOP Chairman Jim Herring.

Republicans considering a run for the district include former Tupelo Mayor Glenn McCullough, who is also a former member of the board of the Tennessee Valley Authority; state Sen. Alan Nunnelee of Tupelo and Southaven Mayor Greg Davis.

Dowdy acknowledged the 3rd District will be “a little more difficult” for his party to win. The district was redrawn earlier this decade after the state lost a congressional seat. Democrats said the plan favored Pickering, who defeated U.S. Rep. Ronnie Shows, D-Miss., in 2002.

Some GOP candidates for Pickering’s seat are former state Sen. Charlie Ross of Brandon, Madison County businessman David Landrum, former Pickering aide John Rounsaville of Madison and Gregg Harper, an attorney from Pearl.

The only known Democrat in the 3rd District is Joel Gill, a cattle broker from Pickens.

More News in the 3rd District Republican Primary

John Rounsaville was spotted with a float in the Meridian Christman Parade. The Saturday parade had about 100 floats and vehicles and several thousand attendees. John Rounsaville and his wife walked behind a vehicle that had "Vote for Rounsaville" on it and passed out push cards to those in attendance.

More Republicans In / Republican Primary News

Pearl attorney and Republican activist Gregg Harper is in for the Republican nomination for District 3.

As is former Pickering aid, John Rounsaville is also in for the Republican nomination for District 3.

Hat Tip:Majority in Mississippi

Southern Political Retort

The "Southern Political Report" should read a couple state blogs before issuing their opinion.

Here is their view on the Republican field:

The three most likely Republican contenders are attorney Gregg Harper, chairman of the Rankin County Republican Party; state Sen. Walter Michel from Madison County; and John Rounsaville, the state director of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Office. None have formally announced, but are telling friends and associates that they are likely to run.

Somehow they left out Charlie Ross who released a letter where he says that he is seriously considering the race. Oh, the three folks who I've never heard of are the leaders. Right.

Here is their view on the Democratic field:

For the Democrats, the most prominent prospective contender is state party chair and former Congressman Ronnie Shows, who represented most of the district before the post-2000 reapportionment. Shows lost to Pickering by 64% to 35% in 2002.

I'm sure former Congressman Shows would be surprised to find that he is now State Party Chair. Also, who gets to tell Wayne Dowdy that the "Southern Political Report" has dethroned him?

Before the "Southern Political Report" decides that it can tell us how our elections will turn out perhaps it should do a simple fact check and a scan of blogs left and right in the states they are supposedly analyzing.

The (as of 2:25PM Wed. uncorrected) Full Report
The (as of 10:59PM Wed. uncorrected) Full Report