Mississippi Democrat’s vote for McCain starts Internet furor
WASHINGTON — Democratic Rep. Gene Taylor of Mississippi caused something of a minor sensation in political circles Monday when a comment he made to the Sun Herald of Biloxi, Miss. – that he had voted for GOP nominee John McCain instead of Democratic standard-bearer Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election – went viral on the Web.
The Hill, a Capitol Hill newspaper, queried the Sun Herald and wrote a story, which was matched by one in Politico and linked to on various websites, including the Washington Post’s website. “NBC Nightly News” and CBS’ “The Early Show” also mentioned the vote – an unusual act of party treason.
Taylor, for his part, in an interview Tuesday downplayed the episode and said that only national reporters were reacting with surprise.
“Locally, they know,” said Taylor of his constituents and media.
However, a search of the Sun Herald archives did not turn up any revelation about Taylor’s vote, which is by secret ballot.
