Stalling the vote in Mississippi

Commercial Appeal, 12/5/7

For political reasons, Gov. Haley Barbour wants Mississippians to wait almost a year before voting on a replacement for retiring U.S. Sen. Trent Lott.

Democrats may launch a legal challenge to the delay, but assuming Barbour is successful the special election to fill the remaining four years of Lott’s term would be held in conjunction with the presidential election Nov. 4, 2008.

Mississippi supports Republican candidates for president, which translates into a big advantage for the GOP in the race just below whoever’s up against Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama at the top of the ballot.

In the meantime, Barbour will appoint “the best qualified person who can do the most for our state and country” to fill the vacancy on an interim basis.