1st District: Perilous to ignore the ‘also-rans’
I n the close general election showdown shaping up between incumbent Democratic 1st District U.S. Rep. Travis Childers and Republican challenger state Sen. Alan Nunnelee, it would be a mistake to ignore the minor party and independent candidates who join them on the Nov. 2 ballot.
Case For Childers
The case for a Childers win is obvious. He’s the incumbent and he has the most campaign cash right now.
Incumbency is in and of itself a powerful weapon. Beyond that, Childers’ former life as a chancery clerk gives him a network of support in county courthouses.
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Nunnelee’s Case
The case for Nunnelee? Incumbency becomes a daunting liability when unemployment is near double digits, when a recession threatens to double-dip and when the public is angry at best and confused at worst about a massive public health care package.
In the age of the Internet, the old Mississippi saw of running as a “Mississippi Democrat” as opposed to a national Democrat isn’t so easily accomplished for Childers.
Sid Salter
Aug. 22
