McGlowan takes flak over loyalty
In an appearance last week on the Paul Gallo radio show, McGlowan criticized Nunnelee’s record on taxes and referred to him as a “Republican in name only.” She said she would support former Europa Mayor Henry Ross if he wins the primary, but declined to commit to backing Nunnelee.
Her comments led Prentiss County GOP Chairman Roy Gray to fire off an angry email letter to Mississippi GOP Chairman Brad White and other local party leaders, questioning McGlowan’s GOP bona fides and raising the possibility that she was “a plant for [Democratic Rep.] Travis Childers.”
“Angela has previously stated that she intended to run a positive campaign focusing on the defeat of Travis Childers. Good advice, that she needs to heed,” wrote Gray, according to a copy of the email obtained by POLITICO.
He pointed out that GOP infighting ended up damaging the party’s nominee in 2008 and enabled Childers to capture the Republican-leaning north Mississippi district.
“I, for one, believe McGlowan should run her race in a respectable manner, keep her mouth shut and support the [R]epublican nominee whether it be her, Ross or Nunnelee and if she can’t do this we as a party should demand that she withdraw from this race today,” said Gray.
In an interview with POLITICO, Gray confirmed that he was the author of the letter, which he sent to several other local leaders. He said he received positive feedback and encouragement from them regarding his forceful tone.
“I don’t know why she would do this,” Gray said of McGlowan’s actions. “I think the type of voter she’s trying to appeal to would find these tactics offensive.”
McGlowan campaign manager Anne Marie Turner responded in a statement to POLITICO, saying that “the assertion that Angela McGlowan is not a life-long, loyal member of the Republican party is absurd.”
“Regrettably, rather than join Ms. McGlowan’s fight against Obama, 16-year incumbent politician Alan Nunnelee has chosen to encourage attacks on Angela’s character and conservative credentials to hide serious and legitimate questions about his own record,” said Turner.
Pointing to Nunnelee’s voting record in the state Senate, Turner lumped him in with both the president and the Democratic incumbent.
“McGlowan feels compelled to protect Mississippians from this type of hypocrisy, whether it comes from Barack Obama, Travis Childers or Alan Nunnelee.”
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33876.html#ixzz0hAx2BBh6
Politico
3/3/10
Magnolia Tribune
