Barbour’s help could bring GOP to majority

The Clarion-Ledger Editorial, 7/23/7

Another election in Mississippi. The sitting governor was popular. His political party’s confidence level heading into the general election was running high – poised, by some estimations, to make major inroads in the Legislature.

It didn’t happen. It was the election of 1995. And the political magnetism of Republican Kirk Fordice – strong enough to win him a second term – couldn’t pull other Republicans into the winner’s circle.

Flash forward to 2007. The sitting governor is popular. His political party’s confidence is high – and its candidates are grabbing for Haley Barbour’s coattails.

The difference? Barbour, a politically savvy strategist with deep pockets, might pull it off.