Will the South rise again?

The Anniston Star Editorial, 4/9/7

A decade ago it seemed the South had indeed risen again. Newt Gingrich, Haley Barbour, Dick Armey, Tom DeLay and Trent Lott were running the Republican Party. The Republican Party seemed to be running the country. The only Democrat who had any real clout was President Bill Clinton, also a Southerner.

In less than 10 years congressional historians are contending that the South has less influence in Washington than it has had since the 1940s. And a number of things have contributed to this.