Judge cancels special election to replace Lott.

[kpete]

Judge cancels special election to replace Lott.

A Mississippi judge ruled today that Gov. Haley Barbour (R) “exceeded his constitutional authority by setting the special election” to replace former senator Trent Lott for Nov. 4. The judge, however, ruled that the election should be held “within 90 days of the governor’s Dec. 20, 2007 proclamation of writ of election…on or before March 19, 2008.” Last month, Barbour named Rep. Roger Wicker as Lott’s replacement.
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/15/judge-cancels-special-election-to-replace-lott/

[AnOhioan]

1. Excellent

Barbour was trying to pull a fast one.

[babylonsister]

2. Good news, but do the Dems have anyone in mind? Not much

time left.

[AnOhioan]

3. They have some possibilites

"Analysts believe a competitive general election would depend on the candidacy of former Attorney General Mike Moore (D) and, to a lesser extent, current Attorney General Jim Hood (D).

Moore served four terms as attorney general, ending in 2004, and earned fame for filing a lawsuit against the tobacco companies in the 1990s. He was floated as a possible candidate if Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) retired this year, but Cochran announced earlier this month that he will run again.

Hood was the only Democrat elected to statewide office this month. Another potential Democratic candidate is former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove (D), whom Barbour unseated in 2003."

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/mississippi-special-election-date-causes-uncertainty-2007-11-26.html

[babylonsister]

6. Thanks! nt

[MzNov]

5. Here's KOS' comment on this special election

He's not always right, but I don't see anything else out there for now...

DailyKOS, 1/15/08

***
A special election in March may well provide a real opening for Democrats, as Wicker suffers from limited name recognition outside his old district, while at least one of our candidates, former Governor Ronnie Musgrove, enjoys excellent name rec from his stint as Barbour's predecessor. In an earlier piece, I posted the polling data for Musgrove, which certainly suggests that he would be a tough adversary for Wicker, particularly with the DSCC's money advantage over their beleaguered Republican counterparts.

Our other candidate, former Rep. Ronnie Shows, was a popular Congressman who was redistricted out of a seat in 2002. I have no polling data for Shows, unfortunately.

Now, it is very likely that this case will be appealed to the Mississippi Supreme Court, and that the court, heavy with Barbour cronies, will overturn the lower court's decision. So I am not optimistic that the special election will actually be held by March.

But for the time being, the news is good for Democrats.

***

[babylonsister]

7. Thank you! nt

[dbackjon]

4. A judge that actually applies the law!

Outstanding!

[LiberalFighter]

8. Follow the rule of law!!!!

If Lott had resigned on January 1st, 2008 the election could had been scheduled for November.

Since Lott must had resigned when Barbour made his election proclamation the election must be held within 90 days.

RULE OF LAW