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Is Haley Barbour the GOP’s hope for 2012? If Republicans score what looms as a substantial victory in November’s elections, one GOP leader will have a special reason to celebrate. For Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, orchestrating a Republican comeback against a freshman Democratic president would be, in the words of Yogi Berra, “déjà vu all…

AP – Childers spokesman defends using anonymous comments – it’s “a reputable news source” Some top Democrats, including President Barack Obama, have said they favor extending most of the tax cuts, but not those for the wealthiest. Childers’ statement came shortly after his Republican challenger in the Nov. 2 election, Alan Nunnelee, intensified criticism of…

MIM – NRCC mocks Travis Childers use of anonymous comments as sources We have talked about the interesting sourcing technique used by the Travis Childers campaign to attack Alan Nunnelee (here and here), and so has Alan Lange at Y’all Politics. Today, the NRCC got in on the fun mocking Childers’ on a couple of…

Brumfield – Jim Hood to appeal Mills’ ruling in in death sentence case Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood will appeal a federal order throwing out a Lowndes County death sentence. Jan Schaefer, a Hood spokeswoman, said Wednesday that his office will appeal the decision to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Monday, Chief U.S.…

AP – Tax arguments heat up MS-01 US House race JACKSON — Democratic U.S. Rep. Travis Childers split with his party leadership Wednesday, saying he favors at least a one-year extension for all the 2001 federal income tax cuts that are set to expire at the end of this year. “The best way to improve…

Jerry Mitchell – Innocent man died in Mississippi prison HATTIESBURG — Larry Ruffin spent 23 years behind bars for a rape and murder that DNA shows he did not commit, but he will never walk free from prison. He died in 2002. “Every time I think about it, tears come to my eyes,” said Ernestine…

Ole Miss student faces deportation for revealing illegal status Rebels are plentiful at the University of Mississippi in Oxford. Patricia Pacheco, 22, a third-year student there, is in the uphill fight of her life. Growing up poor with a single mother in southern Florida, she knew she couldn’t afford a car, but she at least…

Tide defense has yet to allow a touchdown TUSCALOOSA | Two games into the 2010 season, and with the first of several Top-25 opponents in the University of Alabama’s rear-view mirror, a Crimson Tide defense that entered the season with more question marks than experience has yet to allow a touchdown. Effective play in one…

Gene Taylor, D-Miss., becomes first Democrat to support repeal of Obamacare Today, Mississippi Democrat Gene Taylor became the first Democrat to sign Discharge Petition #11, which would force a vote on repealing the unpopular law. Representative Taylor’s decision marks a new phase in the campaign to repeal Obamacare, which Heritage Action for America launched in…

Associated Press TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama coach Nick Saban says Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram is "ready to go" and will play against Duke Saturday. Ingram has practiced all week for the top-ranked Crimson Tide after missing the first two games following arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. Saban said Wednesday he hasn't decided on Ingram's role for his first game back in a situation where the Tide is heavily favored. SEC blog ESPN.com's Chris Low writes about all things SEC in his conference blog. • Blog network: College Football Nation "He's done well," Saban said. "He's running fast and hard and cutting and doing well." Ingram also is facing questions of whether he would start after Trent Richardson averaged 6.6 yards on 32 carries during his absence. Richardson also ranks second in the SEC in all-purpose yardage. "We really don't look at it as what team he's on or whether he starts or doesn't start," Saban said. "We feel like [Ingram] needs to play in this game to enhance his development in terms of coming back and rehabilitating himself physically and from a confidence standpoint. "We're going to play him in the game and we haven't decided exactly how we'll do it. Guys don't lose their jobs around here just because they get injured." The Duke game comes ahead of consecutive games against ranked opponents -- No. 12 Arkansas, No. 10 Florida and No. 13 South Carolina. Left tackle James Carpenter (ankle) and linebackers Courtney Upshaw (ankle) and Chris Jordan (shoulder) have been practicing after suffering injuries. Saban said he expected them to go through the entire practice Wednesday. Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press