Miss.Gov. race taking on urgency (Multi-state Dem. effort to get out vote)

[Maddy McCall]

Gov. race taking on air of urgency
http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0311/03/ma01.html

Musgrove, Barbour camps step up efforts to get out the vote
By Ana Radelat
Clarion-Ledger Washington Bureau


On the wall of Haley Barbour's campaign headquarters, a digital clock counts the days, hours and even minutes until the polls close Tuesday and the tumultuous governor's race ends.

The clock measures the urgency — verging on panic — felt by both Republican Barbour's camp and that of his political rival, Gov. Ronnie Musgrove.

snip/

When Musgrove first ran for governor in 1999 against former Rep. Mike Parker, neither candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote and the race was in Musgrove's favor by the Democratically controlled Legislature. Republicans blame low turnout by the party faithful — there was about an 80,000 drop off in voters from the previous election — for their defeat.

snip/

In the last couple of days, hundreds of young Democratic activists have been bused into the state from Alabama and Louisiana to help get out the vote for Musgrove on Election Day and watch the polls to make sure no supporters are turned away.

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[Maddy McCall]

1. Kick...because the election is TOMORROW...

and it has national significance. C'mon, DUers, someone respond.

[jiacinto]

2. I hope they can make a difference

This is one election we really can't lose.

[SoCalDem]

3. The press is already saying it will be "tight"

That is repub-speak, for "we got it fixed" but it will look oh-so close.. Just Like Georgia..

Probably no need for exit polls either, so who's to know:shrug:

[Maddy McCall]

5. I expect exit polls...

Elections in Mississippi have been monitored frequently by civil rights orgs and I have been exit polled numerous times.

[rucky]

4. Maybe I was wrong about the Dixiecrats

Always thought they wouln't be motivated without a Southern ticket...

Of course this is a southern ticket, but it's a good sign that the Dems are organized and sense the urgency of a win. If this happens next year, we've got it.

[Maddy McCall]

6. Dixiecrats?

I am a Southern Democrat...I am IN NO WAY a Dixiecrat, a term that inherently implies "racist."

Perhaps you would be impressed if you traveled South and visited with some Democrats here. You would find many progressives among our southern flock, and these are people who are really working to improve race relations, not people who sit in their armchairs offering advice, but in no way dealing first-hand with it.

If I misunderstiid your post, then forgive me. But we work as hard here as in any other region of the US, and we are quite organized, from precinct to state level.

[Mississippi Liberal]

7. Don't get your hopes up.

I suspect that Barbour has the election sown up. Musgrove is a fairly despicable DINO who's anti-abortion and wanted to move Roy Moore's Ten Commandments idol to the Mississippi Capitol. The only reason for voting for him is the (fading) hope that a Dem win would embarrass Shrub going into 2004.

[Maddy McCall]

8. Polls from last week look hopeful.

Musgrove is by no means a liberal, but a liberal is unelectable in Mississippi.

So what do you think about Musgrove's education policies? What about his other pro-women activities?

I am voting for him because he has been a decent governor, and because there is no way in hell I will stay in this state under another Republican governor. Eight years of Fordice was enough.

If you have difficulties envisioning the differences between a conservative Democratic and a conservative Bushco Republican governor, then it will all be clarified if Barbour is elected. Let's pray that DOES NOT happen.

[CounterCoulter]

9. More Repub lite garbage.

Preach it jchild.

These were the same clowns talking about how little difference there was between Bush and Gore. It's that "I want a perfect candidate who will do exactly what I want or I don't give a shit" attitude that gave us Bush in the first place. Zell Miller and Musgrove may pander to their base, but they are staffed with DEMOCRATS who favor much more liberal policies than Barbour's cronies would.

Just like Clinton might not be the most liberal President, but to say that there is no difference between Lani Guinier and John Ashcroft would take just about the most ignorant Nader-bot in the world.

Sorry for the rant. Had to let it out.

[Maddy McCall]

10. Musgrove is no Zell Miller...

you have to mirror your base. There are not enough liberals like me in Mississippi to elect a liberal governor BUT I will be happy with a conservative Democrat (who by the way is no Zell), when the other option is a Bushco Republican.

All I have to say to anyone who says there is no difference is just let Barbour get elected, and then you will SEE the difference.

Idealism is fine, but a governor has to publicly reflect the electorate's attitudes (no matter what he feels privately) if he is to be elected.

It would be counter productive for him to run on a platform of liberal policies, because there is no way in hell he could be elected.

BUT let me say this. Two years ago, he did something that no other governor had sought to do. He created a State of Mississippi Commission on the Status of Women, which is studying women's issues, and women's support of various issues like health care, education, child care, reproductive health, etc.

He may not be a liberal, but he pushed this through a very conservative legislature, and that is sufficient for me.

[kayleybeth]

11. kick for Mississippi

You are so right, Musgrove may not be perfect, but he's a far cry from Haley Barbour <shiver>.

We have a similar situation here in Louisiana- a conservative Democrat up against a shrub operative for governor. We've had 8 years of Repuke Mike Foster and that's been bad enough, but the Repuke candidate now is even worse than Foster. I'll take the conservative Dem thank you very much.

We go to the polls November 15 here. The Repuke is leading in almost all of the polls right now. Stay tuned.

[jiacinto]

13. Like Barbara Lee could win in MS

Or Maxine Waters? Then again you are probably the type who thinks that the most extreme liberal can win the most red of states.

Musgrove is probably the best Democrat you are going to get out of MS.

[Shakespeare]

12. Haley Barbour's lobbying firm used to sub-let in my office....

...when I worked in DC.

I was subjected to that creep's presence more than anyone should ever have to be.

If that fat fuck wins Mississippi, it'll be downright shameful. He is one of the slimiest characters I have EVER encountered.

[Maddy McCall]

14. LMAO! He is slimey...

I can't at all figure what the appeal is to anyone.

He looks like a bloated alcoholic and he talks like a redneck rube. Can't figure out why anyone likes him--not considering policy issues.

Say a prayer for us...I will have a Mississippi elections thread up tomorrow evening to keep everyone updated.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

16. IMHO -even though I am a foreigner-

To state the obvious, I hope Barbour goes down to defeat. I've read a significant amount about Mississipi politics and after Governor Kirk "Clinton's not fit to be in power because of his womanizing but I can do exactly the same thing and be excluded from moral judgment/I'm going to go into every meeting with an African-American delegation wearing a confederate flag on my lapel just so I can prove how racist I am" Fordice, Musgrove has moved the state forward. He may not be the most liberal candidate but he is, IMO, the right man for the times and he deserves a second term as Governor

[Maddy McCall]

15. ...

:kick: for Musgrove

[Noordam]

17. The Biggest reason is Bush is counting on two wins on Tuesday

and if he does not get both, he will look bad.