Mississippi Voters Choose Ronnie Musgrove on Dem Ballot for Governor

[Nambe]

JACKSON, Miss. (AP)

Gov. Ronnie Musgrove easily defeated four obscure opponents in Tuesday's Democratic primary, and former Republican National Committee Chairman Haley Barbour was leading his lone opponent in the GOP race.

Early returns Tuesday night showed Musgrove with 71 percent of the vote in his race, and Barbour with 87 percent in the GOP primary. A simple majority is needed for nomination.

Barbour's only opponent was trial lawyer Mitch Tyner of Jackson, who had contributed to Musgrove's campaign in 1999. Musgrove faced four opponents who raised little money and made few campaign appearances.

Barbour, 55, a close ally of President Bush, has received $1.5 million from the Republican Governors Association. He is a longtime Republican power broker who oversaw the national party when Republicans won control of Congress in 1994. ---