Ray Mabus on the trail for Obama

Former Mississippi Governor Ray Mabus has been hitting the campaign trail for Senator Barack Obama. Mabus was a highly popular Governor of Mississippi who was named the Governor of the millennium in a 1999 Clarion Ledger poll. He served as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia under President Bill Clinton.

Yesterday Mabus held an economic forum in Danville, Virgina, where he discussed Barack Obama's plans for places like rural Virginia. WSLS, a Roanoke TV station, reported on the event.

“We are excited to have Governor Mabus returning to Danville on behalf of Barack Obama,” Sheila Baynes, chairman of the Danville Democratic Committee, said Tuesday. “This underscores the importance of Danville in this election and shows that we, the citizens of Danville, can make a difference.”

Mabus campaigned for Obama in February at Danville Community College

Ray Mabus quoted in front page New York Times Obama article

The front page of the New York Times featured an article on Barack Obama's rising chances in the South. The story is pretty much the same one repeated multiple times on Cotton Mouth about voter registration drives, the untapped black vote, and the changing political makeup of young Southerners.

There is one interesting passage featuring our own former Governor and senior Obama advisor, Ray Mabus. I saw Ray Mabus speak at the 9:30 Blues Cafe the night of the Texas and Ohio primaries at an Obama gathering. He talked on a lot of the same themes repeated in today's New York Times.

“We’ve not only lost in Mississippi, we’ve lost by 20 points in Mississippi,” said Ray Mabus, the former governor of Mississippi and a senior adviser to Mr. Obama.

Mr. Mabus added: “It’s not only Democrats who’ve been writing off Mississippi. It’s Republicans, too, because they felt safe.”

The Obama campaign’s interest in the South, Mr. Mabus said, is already heightening the competition there. He noted that Senator John McCain had been to Mississippi since clinching the Republican nomination. “I don’t think he would have come if he thought it was a mortal lock,” Mr. Mabus said.

Barack Obama and the Birth of the Southern Shield

(Miss. Lawyers for Obama Steering Committee members Taylor Ferrell, of Baker Donelson, and Jody Owens, II, of Butler Snow.)


On June 19th, the Mississippi Lawyers for Obama held their inaugural meeting at Hal & Mal’s in Jackson. Former Governor Ray Mabus, also a former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, came to speak on behalf of Senator Barack Obama, who he advises on issues in the Middle East.

Here’s what you need to know: in the middle of June, in Jackson, Mississippi, a hundred people turned out to support a man for an election that wouldn’t be held for months yet. The people were there for two reasons: to meet their brothers and sisters who share their beliefs and to learn more about how Barack intends to make those beliefs a reality.

Governor Mabus spoke in detail about the change Senator Obama offers—not just for America, but for Mississippi. The room exploded when laughter when Governor Mabus brought up what the talking heads and the pundits were saying about Mississippi—“they say that only black folks were voting for Obama. But look at this room!” Indeed, the room was crowded with folks black and white, in equal numbers, socializing together, laughing together, believing together. We always knew what they said on TV wasn’t reflective of our world.

The greatest charge came when the Governor suggested a new Southern Strategy for Obama. Not the divisive one of Nixon and Reagan, based on racial fears and the past—but a new Southern Shield, where an energized Mississippi populace doesn’t just hang its head and let the state fall to Republicans, but vigorously fights for the Democratic Party. “What was the first thing John McCain did after he clinched the nomination?” the Governor asked. “Now, Senator Obama went straight to Bristow , Virginia, campaigning in a state that Bush won in 2000 and 2004. Senator Obama is going to take it back.” The crowd cheered their approval.

“But McCain, what did he do? He came right down to Mississippi. You see, he’s scared of us. He knows he can’t take anything for granted.” At this, a roar went up. The crowd knew—as the Governor did, and as Cottonmouth reported after the primary—that hundreds of thousands of people were voting in the Democratic primary, that nearly as many people voted in the primary this year as voted for John Kerry in 2004. People are hungry for change.

The Southern Shield idea is this: Because of Senator Obama's broad appeal, he has the ability to compete and win in southern states like North Carolina, Georgia, and Mississippi. Just as importantly, every dollar John McCain has to spend in Mississippi is one he’s not spending in Ohio, or Florida, or Virginia. Every time McCain has to come down here to court his own base, he can’t campaign in Michigan. As the shield-bearers, we force the Republicans to spend their time and money fighting for what they used to take for granted.

As the crowd began to disperse after the speech, everybody grabbing the last remnants of the meatballs and chicken wings, I glance around the room. At the table next to me is a distinguished old fellow wearing a suit, a red Ole Miss baseball hat pulled low over his eyes, his long white beard scratching the top of the tie. His name is James Meredith, and he did more in one year to change the face of America then most people do there entire lives.

In the corner arguing with smiles on their faces are Rob McDuff, the civil rights lawyer who has been in front of the Supreme Court a half-dozen times, most recently against the gerrymandering of the Third District, and Luther Mumford, who clerked for Justice Blackmun, now an appellate expert himself.

The room is chock full of dozens more just like them, intelligent and excited people, black and white, young and old, who believe in the promise of America, and who are hungry for change. There’s nobody that can fight harder than Mississippians. And Mississippi is going to fight for Obama.

This is a guest post by David McCarty of David Nutt and Associates.

Barack Obama Has Entered The Building

Did I say wild before. Now it's deafening. People are on their feet. Arms are in the air. And He is greeted by nearly 10,000 voices. Competing cheers begin and "Yes We Can" breaks through.

"I'm proud to have the support of one of the most outstanding Congressmen we have: Bennie Thompson" (Crowd cheers.)

Acknowledges Ray Mabus, Joseph Lowry, Jackson State University President, Volunteers, Staffers, and Jackson State University.

I thank you for sending Walter Payton to Chicago.

"I hear you guys were having some fun without me."

The crowd cheers following almost everything he says including "Springfield" and "Abraham Lincoln."

Video Of Former Governor Ray Mabus Speaking At Mississippi Obama Rally W/ Crowd Reaction

Ray Mabus Just Spoke

He was good. The video will follow shortly:

VIPs Continue TO Stream In

I saw controversial Jackson Mayor Frank Melton. He looked calm and tired.

I saw Ray Mabus' daughter, but not him (yet).

I saw Congressman Bennie Thompson and Rev. Joseph Lowry.

Thompson and Mabus are Obama's campaign co-chairs.

Lowry spoke on his behalf at the Jefferson Jackson Hamer dinner.

I also saw Erik Fleming up in the stands. Many other folks have streamed in the back, but I confess to not knowing many of the local and historical Mississippi notable persons.

Frank Melton was asked Ms. Rupp from the Clarion Ledger who he was supporting. He said he's waffled and he wouldn't tell the paper.

Video From Before Jackson Jefferson Hamer Dinner In Canton

Mississippian Endorses Barack Obama:*


Former Democratic Nominee for Treasurer (2003) and Insurance Commissioner (2007) Gary Anderson Endorses Barack Obama:


Mississippi Democratic Activist Kelly Jacobs Endorses Hillary Clinton:


Former State Senator and Current Hillary Clinton Mississippi Co-Chair Gloria Williamson:


Former Governor and Current Barack Obama Mississippi Co-Chair Ray Mabus:


Ridiculously Enthusiastic Hillary Clinton Supporter From Alabama Sings:


*If you know her name please leave let me know.

Erik Fleming Is A Proud And Devoted Democrat

I am honored to have an opportunity to post on this blog. It is also an honor to have served in public office in Mississippi for nine years, and to be a Democrat all my political life. As a founder of the Jackson State Chapter of the Young Democrats of Mississippi, doors were opened to me that I did not envision when I first arrived on that campus in 1983.

Through that experience, and being chosen by my fellow students as their student body president in 1987, I was able to meet people like Bill Allain, Mike Espy, and Ray Mabus. One of my highlights in my student government tenure was providing buses for students to go home and vote for Espy in 1986, as well as providing ground troops for his historical campaign. Then, upon graduation, I was chosen to work with Mabus' campaign for Governor in 1987, where I learned how diverse and big this state really was.

To tell you what kind of political junkie I was, when I had free time from the Mabus campaign, I would run down to the Magnolia Towers at night and volunteer for the Mike Moore campaign. That volunteerism led to an opportunity to work for Mike Parker in 1988, yes when he was a Democrat, when he ran for the U.S. Congress. It was during those early altruistic years that my love for Mississippi deepened and my commitment to fight the good fight as a Democrat grew stronger.

I have never wavered from those basic beliefs even though I have been hardened by my later political endeavors. Despite the personal obstacles I have had to overcome and the never ending blows to my pride and ego, I still engage because I believe in Mississippi, I believe in the Democratic Party, and I serve a God that says all things are possible.

I am eternally grateful to the people of this state for allowing a boy from the south side of Chicago to come, get a world-class education, and make a mark in politics here. I intend to continue to contribute to the public discourse of issues here in Mississippi and will always make myself available to those who wish to positively engage in those discussions.

In the coming days, the people of Mississippi will choose individuals that will lead this state and this nation, especially on issues addressing poverty, health care, education and real national security. It is my goal to make sure that the citizens here make an informed decision.

Again thanks for the opportunity to share with your readers.

Erik R. Fleming
2008 Democratic Candidate, U.S. Senate, Mississippi

More Polling Numbers For Lott's Open Seat

Zata 3 has released polling numbers for three more Republicans and one more Democrat.

Here are the preliminary percentages based on 678 surveys:

Opinion Pickering Mabus Tuck Ross
Very Favorable 46% 12% 20% 6%
Somewhat Favorable 18% 16% 31% 20%
Somewhat Unfavorable 7% 28% 21% 18%
Very Unfavorable 7% 26% 14% 9%
Not Enough Info To Form Opinion3% 20% 13% 48%

Former Governor Mabus is the Democrat. US Representative Pickering, Current Lt. Governor Tuck, and State Senator Ross are Republicans.

It comes with this disclaimer:

Please note that this is a preliminary report. These figures have not been weighted for age, race, or gender. These raw numbers overstate the opinions of women and understate the opinions of African American voters by more than half. Additionally, the survey results understate the opinions of voters under age 50. This preliminary survey significantly overstates the opinions of Republican voters.

News Roundup

Mississippi Burning mom died Tuesday:

Fannie Lee Chaney, the mother of one of three civil-rights workers killed in the "Mississippi Burning" case in 1964, has died, her son said Wednesday. Chaney, 84, had lived to see a reputed Klan leader convicted two years ago in the young men's deaths.
...
Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood, who helped prosecute Killen, recalled that he held Fannie Lee Chaney's hand to steady her as she walked to the witness stand to testify. Though her legs were shaky with age, Hood said, she seemed to have found an inner strength and calmness.

"She told me she just wanted to live ... to have her day in court over her son's murder," Hood said Wednesday. "I'm glad she got to live to see the trial."

Former Governor Mabus to serve Obama as Mideast Advisor:

Former Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus, who served as U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia during the Clinton administration, is joining Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign as an unpaid adviser on Middle Eastern issues.
...
Mabus serves on the advisory board for the Center for Middle East Public Policy at the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit research group. He’s also on the board of directors of America-Mideast Educational and Training Services, Inc., a Washington-based nonprofit group designed to strengthen ties among the U.S., the Middle East and north Africa.