What’s the backstory to Wicker’s appointment?
Exactly what played into Gov. Haley Barbour’s choice of U.S. Rep. Roger Wicker to fill Sen. Trent Lott’s shoes as interim senator – thus likely ensuring Wicker will get elected to the seat permanently come November?
Only Barbour will ever know for sure, but the pols’ and pundits’ story lines have firmed up to some main themes that sound pretty plausible.
For starters, many believe tension between Barbour and Lott likely came into play. That tension has been noticeable for quite some time, evidenced by some digs Lott has made about Barbour about the Katrina homeowner grant program Barbour’s office is running and other issues. Lott’s resignation itself, appearing to catch many by surprise (perhaps even Barbour) and putting the state Republican Party in a bit of a pickle, would likely have been timed differently if there were total peace and harmony among the state’s top two Republicans. Come November, the GOP will now have to defend two House seats while running a Senate campaign. Surely this could have been avoided with some teamwork.
Wicker and Barbour are close, and Wicker’s loyalty to the governor wouldn’t be questioned. At least one other short-listed candidate would have probably been far more loyal to Lott.
Geoff Pender
Sun Herald
1/1/8
Magnolia Tribune
