Cochran, McDaniel stump on Miss. Gulf Coast
GULFPORT, MISS. — U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran is telling supporters he will continue to ensure Mississippi’s voice is heard in Washington if he’s elected to a seventh term, while his Republican primary challenger, state Sen. Chris McDaniel, says Cochran has been in office too long and it’s time for a more conservative advocate on Capitol Hill.
The two candidates held contrasting events Sunday on the Gulf Coast, an important area for GOP votes in Tuesday’s primary runoff.
McDaniel, 41, spoke to about 200 people at a hot and muggy Tea Party Express rally in the parking lot of Hobby Lobby in Biloxi. Hours later, Cochran, 76, spoke to about 125 people in the air-conditioned concourse of Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport.
Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the 2008 Republican nominee for president, was supposed to speak at the Cochran event, but his commercial flight from Dallas to Gulfport was canceled. McCain is scheduled to campaign for Cochran early Monday in Jackson.
“We don’t want any questions about recounts, all of the challenges that seem to have plagued elections in recent memory,” Cochran said. “What we want is for everybody to be sure to go vote, to cast votes vote with your family members and your neighbors. That way, we’re going to be assured of a good, solid, decisive election victory on election day. And I promise you this: I will do everything I can when I’m in Washington serving in the Senate to make you very proud you were part of my election.”
Republican U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo, whose district is in south Mississippi, said Cochran, as a top member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured billions of dollars of disaster relief for the state after Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005.
“Thad Cochran knew we didn’t need just bottled water and blue tarps,” Palazzo said.
McDaniel said he intends to defeat Cochran so he can work with other GOP senators elected with tea party support. He named Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Mike Lee of Utah and Rand Paul of Kentucky.
“Ladies and gentlemen, next time Ted Cruz stands on that floor, next time Mike Lee stands on that floor, next time Rand Paul stands on that floor to fight for you, a son of Mississippi will stand next to them,” McDaniel said Sunday to whoops and applause from the crowd.
Enquirer Herald
6/22/14
Magnolia Tribune
