Republican Gov. Haley Barbour and Democratic challenger John Arthur Eaves Jr. offer sharply different views about Mississippi’s economy.
Barbour boasts that since he took office in January 2004, Mississippi has survived the jolt of Hurricane Katrina and attracted a host of high-paying jobs.
Eaves, a trial lawyer from Jackson, countered in an interview: “The governor likes to take credit for jobs, but just because he cuts a ribbon don’t mean he brought the business. If he’s going to take credit for every job that comes to Mississippi, he needs to take credit for every one that’s lost, too.”
While Barbour cites record number of workers, Eaves cites Mississippi’s high unemployment rate. Both candidates are correct, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Magnolia Tribune
