Few lines at polls as Mississippi votes in U.S. Senate runoff

[brooklynite]

Source: AP News

JACKSON, Miss. — Voting was swift and easy in many precincts Tuesday as Mississippi residents were deciding the last U.S. Senate race of the midterms, choosing between a white Republican Senate appointee backed by President Donald Trump and a black Democrat who was agriculture secretary when Bill Clinton was in the White House.

History will be made either way: Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, 59, would be the first woman ever elected to Congress from Mississippi, and Democrat Mike Espy, 64, would be the state's first African-American U.S. senator since Reconstruction.

A spokeswoman for the secretary of state's office, Leah Rupp Smith, said observers from the office were seeing "steady but slow" turnout around the state, with few lines.

Espy cast his ballot at a Baptist church in the Jackson suburb of Ridgeland, while Hyde-Smith voted at a volunteer fire department in Brookhaven, about 55 miles south of Jackson.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/few-lines-at-polls-as-mississippi-votes-in-us-senate-runoff/ar-BBQ99sx?ocid=spartandhp

[NastyRiffraff]

1. Low turnout usually is good for Republicans

However, it may not be in this case. Frankly, I don't hold out much hope for Espy because Mississippi, but it may be that white voters are staying away; the sane, non-racists ones not wanting to vote for either a Democrat or a confirmed racist.

[lancelyons]

13. I would imagine the turnout by Dems would be just as strong as during the midterms.

Perhaps the Repubs are not voting?

[ProudMNDemocrat]

2. Makes me wonder if Republicans are the ones embarassed to be seen voting for a racist....

Given Mississippi's past regarding its treatment of African-Americans since Reconstruction and prior to the passage of the Voting Rights and Civil Rights Acts? That many there still cling to the Confederacy and how much negativity White Nationalists are getting, they may not want to show up?

Or could there be blanket Voter Suppression going on? We will find out tonight. I am not holding my breath for an Espy win, but will be thrilled if he does pull this out because of his integrity and Public record of service.

[saidsimplesimon]

3. Could the low turnout insure a win for

the bigot?

To be honest with you, my greatest disappointment is the lack of support from Morgan Freeman. Sure, he faces charges of demonstrating a serial disrespect of women. Is he so shallow that he could not at least contribute to the Mississippi Democratic Party? imo

[beachbum bob]

4. If black turnout is less than stellar, Mississippi elects another bigot and

and the minorities only have themselves to blame.

[GWC58]

5. I want to know how the

“Blacks for Trump” guy makes it to all these racist rallies posing as campaign events. Does he get paid? Inquiring minds ya know? 🤔🤪

[Basement Beat]

8. Exactly how does he end up at seemingly every rally?

Is the American people paying his travel fees?

[beachbum bob]

10. I would not be surprised if he is paid, would you?

[GWC58]

15. Nope,

if this “Blacks for Trump” man, was, indeed a paid schill. ☠️

[Polybius]

16. And he's always right behind Trump at these speeches

How does he always get such good seats?

[Basement Beat]

6. I'm sure its possible to share some of the blame for non-racist white residents...

as well right?
Minorities always tend to get blamed for the overabundance of racists when it comes to voting.

[beachbum bob]

11. Minorities get blame for sitting out elections as they do sit them out.

[Roadside Attraction]

7. Hyde-Smith will win

Trust me on this. I'm a native Mississippian, though I left 50 years ago, still have family there, subscribe to a couple of local papers, go back 2-3 times a year for visits. I was born in Wilkinson County, MS, as a Baptist, a Southerner and a Democrat. I left Mississippi and learned to read. I'm still a Democrat.

Hyde-Smith is typical of damn near every white Mississippian I know -- except for two of my cousins who are solid Democrats in spite of both of them being crazy as a bedbug.

Hyde-Smith's references to public hanging; her and her daughter's attendance at an all-white "academy;" her worship of things Confederate; her opposition to abortion, expanded Medicaid, food stamps, immigrants; her embrace of Donald Trump -- all are things that make her attractive to white Mississippians.

She'll win.

[onenote]

9. I wish it wasn't so, but why do folks think Espy hs a chance in this election?

Some people think that the November 6 election was close because Hyde-Smith got only 41.5 percent of the vote and Espy got 40.6. But that ignores the fact that a second, very right wing Republican candidate got 16.5% of the vote, while a second Democrat got only 1.4 percent.

Most of the 16.5 percent of the vote that went to the second Republican is going to go to Hyde-Smith or will stay home. And the revelations about her past probably make more of them likely to show up than would otherwise have been the case. Meanwhile, there is no way that Espy converts his 40.6 plus another Democrat's 1.4 percent showing (42%) into something even close to 50 %. If he can top 45 percent I'd consider it a shocking result.

[beachbum bob]

12. The only chance Espy has would be record breaking minority turnout...

don't hold your breath.

[vermont farmguy]

14. no underground folks working for Dems in MS??

a lot of opinions on the thread but no reporting from on the ground here. why?