PERRY/Expect Cochran re-election
To borrow a line from W.C. Fields, the rumors of Thad Cochan’s retirement have been greatly exaggerated. The future of the senior Senator from Mississippi creates much conversation and consternation in the Republican political parlor games of who runs for what next. But such speculation has been ongoing for years.
Leading up to the 2002 election, politicos speculated on whether Cochran would run again and if not, who would be the candidates seeking to replace him. Cochran ran again and won with greater than 85 percent of the vote. After Governor Haley Barbour took office in 2004, politicos wondered who he would pick for the Senate if Cochran retired early. Cochran did not retire early and in 2008 Cochran ran again and won again. Now, two years before Cochran’s current term is up in 2014, the game begins anew.
Journalist Geoff Pender recently listed out a who’s-who of names “at least toying with the idea of a run.” Pender mentioned, “Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann, State Auditor Stacey Pickering, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, Supreme Court Justice Mike Randolph, former Govs. Ronnie Musgrove and Ray Mabus, state Sens. Chris McDaniel and Michael Watson, U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper – you get the picture.”
Brian Perry
Madison County Journal
11/26/12
Magnolia Tribune
