Mississippi awaits governor’s choice to fill Lott’s vacant spot

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, 12/20/7

The ball – in the form of the appointment to fill the Senate vacancy left by Tuesday night’s resignation of Trent Lott – is in the court of Gov. Haley Barbour.

But to continue the sports metaphor, the clock has not started running yet on the Republican governor.
State law gives the governor 10 days from the date he receives official notice to fill any Senate vacancy on an interim basis.

While Lott resigned late Tuesday and it was widely reported, Pete Smith, a spokesman for Barbour, said Wednesday the governor’s office had yet to receive official notice from the United States Senate.
Smith said the governor expects to receive that notice soon.