Race for Lott’s seat no longer seen as ‘safe for Republicans’
Stuart Rothenberg, editor of the Rothenberg Political Report and longtime columnist for Roll Call magazine, said on May 20 that the race could no longer be considered “safe for Republicans.”
Rothenberg’s call came after the release of a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee poll showed former Democratic Gov. Ronnie Musgrove with a 48 percent to 40 percent lead over Republican interim U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker in the race.
“Musgrove benefits from higher name identification, and the race will be close, but the initial numbers are good for the Democrat,” Rothenberg said. The DSCC poll showed Musgrove with significantly higher name recognition than Wicker, but that Musgrove had over twice the “unfavorable” rating than did Wicker.
But the same poll showed that in the 1st Congressional District, which Wicker represented before taking the Senate appointment, Wicker leads Musgrove 48 percent to 43 percent. Democrat Travis Childers just defeated Republican Greg Davis in a special election to fill Wicker’s seat
Sid Salter
Clarion Ledger
5/38/8
