Clamoring for coattails? Musgrove-Wicker Senate race tight

The Clarion-Ledger Editorial, 10/19/8

Mississippi voters rarely are given the opportunity to choose both their U.S. senators in one election, but circumstances have developed to give them that chance on Nov. 4.

One race is considered a shoo-in for a veteran incumbent. The other is a nip-and-tuck barnburner that has been one of the most-watched U.S. Senate races in the nation – and one of the most negative races in state history.

The state’s senior U.S. senator, Republican Thad Cochran, is seeking a sixth term against the challenge of Democrat Erik Fleming, a former Hinds County state legislator. Cochran has served the state in Congress since 1973 – the last 30 years in the Senate.