The Fix – Travis Chiders contender emerges … as if we didn’t know
8. Mississippi’s 1st district (D): In the last Line, we wrote that if Republicans could find a candidate not tied to DeSoto County (suburban Memphis) they might have a real chance at knocking off Rep. Travis Childers (D). Damned if they didn’t go out and do just that! (Who says the Fix has no influence?). State Sen. Alan Nunnelee (R), whose political base in in Tupelo, filed his statement of candidacy earlier this week and should make this race competitive. The big question in this contest: what sort of turnout is there in the black community? The higher it goes, the better chance Childers has at being re-elected. (Previous ranking: 9)
7. Alabama’s 2nd district (D): It’s hard to overlook the overwhelmingly Republican nature of this southern Alabama seat where President Barack Obama won only 36 percent of the vote last November. But, Rep. Bobby Bright (D) proved that local connections — he was the mayor of Montgomery before being elected to Congress in 2008 — can overcome even the most daunting demographic deficits. But, without the president leading the ticket, African American turnout will almost certainly drop from its historic high in 2008, which could be a problem for Bright. And, Republicans remain very high on Montgomery City Councilwoman Martha Roby who is the party’s odds-on nominee. (Previous ranking: 8)
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7/31/9
Magnolia Tribune
