My own take on this is that Nunnelee made a strategic mistake by announcing as early as he did. It is very, very hard to sustain a campaign for 15 months. The world’s record for sustaining a campaign’s momentum in Mississippi was in 2003, when Haley Barbour announced for Governor in January and began his TV advertising. And even that campaign lasted just 10 months and was successful only because he spent over $13 million (a sum I doubt is in the cards for Nunnelee). Notwithstanding Lange’s observation about attacking Nunnelee so early in the campaign cycle, because Sen. Nunnelee has announced when he did, I suspect the Democrats have adopted the “boxing” strategy and intend to talk about him in unflattering terms from now until November 2010 on a very regular basis.
REDBLUE
Clarion Ledger
8/10/9
Magnolia Tribune
