Novak: Control of Senate may hinge on Lott

[kskiska]

Trent Lott within the next week plans to decide between seeking a fourth term in the U.S. Senate from Mississippi or retiring from public life. That could determine whether Republicans keep control of the Senate in next year's elections. For the longer range, Lott's retirement and replacement could signal that Southern political realignment has peaked and now is receding.

Mississippi, one of the reddest of the red Republican states, has not even been on the game board of the Washington analysis forecasting the 2006 Senate outcome. But in Mississippi, prominent Republicans are worried sick. They believe Lott will probably retire. If so, they expect the new senator will be a Democrat, former state Attorney General Mike Moore. Republican politicians in Mississippi believe Rep. Chip Pickering, the likely Republican nominee if Lott does not run, cannot defeat Moore.

Republican National Chairman Ken Mehlman pleaded with Lott last week to run again. The senator was as blunt with this emissary from President Bush as he was with me. "Where is our vision and our agenda?" he asked. The malaise afflicting the Bush administration not only threatens a Senate seat in Mississippi but impacts Lott's decision whether to retire.

A Bush entreaty now to Lott is ironic. Lott was driven out of the Senate majority leader's chair after the 2002 elections when the president refused to defend him from calumnies that a harmless jocular remark on the late Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday was racist in nature. Lott's recently published memoir, Herding Cats, reveals he was deeply hurt by Bush's nonsupport.

more…
http://www.suntimes.com/output/novak/cst-edt-novak26.html

also here…
http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=11109

[msongs]

1. as if Mississippi would electe a REAL democrat? nt

[Rowdyboy]

4. You might be surprised....Mike Moore led the fight against big tobacco

and won the huge national class action suit against them. He easily won three terms as state attorney general and was a serious advocate for consumers and minorities, including reopening the case of three murdered civil rights workers in Philadelphia. He's telegenic, well liked and will be easily funded.

Chip Pickering, his likely opponent is bland, has no legislative record of note, and is perhaps best known for siring 5 or 6 baby boys in 9 years. While he would be very well-funded, I'd still give the edge to Mike Moore.

[global1]

Do You Think They Will Offer Lott The Majority Leader's Seat....

again to entice him to come back to the senate? Frist isn't doing a bang up job for them.

[tularetom]

2. Lott was a piss poor majority leader

but next to frist he looks like LBJ. Betcha bushco is sorry they hustled his ass out the door now.

[Rowdyboy]

3. Lott's retirement would be my ultimate Christmas present.....

I'm 51, retired and live in the center of the state. I would volunteer my ass off for Mike Moore full-time if he'd accept me. What a blast it would be to have a Mississippi senate seriously seat in play again!

And I despise the likely Republican nominee, Chip Pickering. What a total twit.

[Demeter]

5. Lott's Jocular Remark Was Not Harmless

But it was extraordinarily truthful and candid. BushCo was afraid he'd do more of it, due to senility, and booted him out. But the vacuum in GOP leadership talent as exemplified by the Commander in Chief will bring the whole fraudulent enterprise down.