Shaping up for a 3-man GOP race
Republican gubernatorial primaries have historically been heavy on organization and low on suspense. That could change in 2011. Two viable Republican candidates have made their intentions known for 2011 and another is rumored to be strongly considering jumping into the race.
Since 1987, when Tupelo businessman Jack Reed easily dispatched Doug Lemon in the GOP primary for the right to face eventual Democratic Gov. Ray Mabus in the general election, Mississippi Republicans have generally kept their primaries small and free of heavy political artillery.
In 1991, political unknown Kirk Fordice overcame the favored Pete Johnson and Bobby Clanton to win the GOP nomination. The GOP second primary was a lesson in political hand-to-hand combat in Republican vote-rich Rankin County that Fordice won on the way to unseating Mabus in the 1991 general election.
Sid Salter
5/26/10
Magnolia Tribune
