This is with a TPM bias, but imo generally factual.
Thad Cochran shifts gears in bid to pull runoff upset against Tea Partier | WashingtonExaminer.com
The common wisdom is that Cochran is at a disadvantage, and maybe it's true. It's hard to overstate the incompetence of Cochran's campaign. They thought 250K turnout would do the trick, and they got 300Kplus, and lost. Seriously underestimating McDaniel's ability to get votes. So, now they're not only attempting to reenergize the 150 who voted for him, but trying to find another 50K to vote ... at least. As the article states, that's tough sledding. Furthermore, the McDaniel's folks are true believers: cut education funding, cut roads, who cares if there's less investment, govt is out enemy!
The common wisdom is Cochran's expanding the vote won't work. Personally, I was very pessimistic going into last Tues' vote. And, contrary to common wisdom, I'm guardedly optimistic about two weeks from now. As the article indicates, Cochran is actually going to campaign the next two weeks.
What isn't reported is a few things.
1. The state gop is enraged at McDaniel. It's personal now. The perception is McDainiel is an opportunist seeking personal power via outside money that doesn't represent our interests. And, imo, that's the truth. The Delta gopers are in open rebellion and will vote Childers if that's the choice. Haley Barbour voters will never vote dem, but they will possibly stay home. A Childers win is not impossible.
2. More to the pt of the election. Cochran's actually on his bus and making campaign stops. He lost Desoto and Jackson Counties. Desoto is a Memphis suburb and product distribution center. It's dependent on the roads and infrastructure Cochran helped build. Even I didn't see that coming. There are Cochran votes to be gained there.
2a. As the article discusses, Cochran lost Jackson county, at the opposite end of the state. That's Katrina territory. It's not possible to overstate the importance of federal aid there. Not the Fema money. But the feds put up seed money to rebuild infrastructure. What they did was set a uniform building code for the counties devastated. If a county opted in, they got the money. Builders then got state tax exemptions. The fed money rebuilt the infrastructure, and private builders used that to rebuild the place in a hurry, and better. Everyone has the same size pipes and sewers and electrical specs. Jackson county's a weird place. It has the Pacagoula shipyards, which are union. Trent Lott's dad was a union shipbuilder. They also tend to be non PC. Fertile McDaniel's territory, but Cochran should have fought him to a draw.
Bottom line, the common wisdom is McDaniel has the upper hand. On the other hand, for the first time Cochran's actually gonna campaign on a positive "vote for me" platform. And, there's a notion that McDaniel may have maxed out. He won that election with less than 9% of eligible voters. But how many neo-confederates can acutally exist here? LOL
Thad Cochran shifts gears in bid to pull runoff upset against Tea Partier | WashingtonExaminer.com
The common wisdom is that Cochran is at a disadvantage, and maybe it's true. It's hard to overstate the incompetence of Cochran's campaign. They thought 250K turnout would do the trick, and they got 300Kplus, and lost. Seriously underestimating McDaniel's ability to get votes. So, now they're not only attempting to reenergize the 150 who voted for him, but trying to find another 50K to vote ... at least. As the article states, that's tough sledding. Furthermore, the McDaniel's folks are true believers: cut education funding, cut roads, who cares if there's less investment, govt is out enemy!
The common wisdom is Cochran's expanding the vote won't work. Personally, I was very pessimistic going into last Tues' vote. And, contrary to common wisdom, I'm guardedly optimistic about two weeks from now. As the article indicates, Cochran is actually going to campaign the next two weeks.
What isn't reported is a few things.
1. The state gop is enraged at McDaniel. It's personal now. The perception is McDainiel is an opportunist seeking personal power via outside money that doesn't represent our interests. And, imo, that's the truth. The Delta gopers are in open rebellion and will vote Childers if that's the choice. Haley Barbour voters will never vote dem, but they will possibly stay home. A Childers win is not impossible.
2. More to the pt of the election. Cochran's actually on his bus and making campaign stops. He lost Desoto and Jackson Counties. Desoto is a Memphis suburb and product distribution center. It's dependent on the roads and infrastructure Cochran helped build. Even I didn't see that coming. There are Cochran votes to be gained there.
2a. As the article discusses, Cochran lost Jackson county, at the opposite end of the state. That's Katrina territory. It's not possible to overstate the importance of federal aid there. Not the Fema money. But the feds put up seed money to rebuild infrastructure. What they did was set a uniform building code for the counties devastated. If a county opted in, they got the money. Builders then got state tax exemptions. The fed money rebuilt the infrastructure, and private builders used that to rebuild the place in a hurry, and better. Everyone has the same size pipes and sewers and electrical specs. Jackson county's a weird place. It has the Pacagoula shipyards, which are union. Trent Lott's dad was a union shipbuilder. They also tend to be non PC. Fertile McDaniel's territory, but Cochran should have fought him to a draw.
Bottom line, the common wisdom is McDaniel has the upper hand. On the other hand, for the first time Cochran's actually gonna campaign on a positive "vote for me" platform. And, there's a notion that McDaniel may have maxed out. He won that election with less than 9% of eligible voters. But how many neo-confederates can acutally exist here? LOL
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