Charles Barbour Switches To SD25

Jackson Jambalaya has the scoop on Charles Barbour. Barbour had previously qualified for the Central District Public Service Commissioner seat currently held by Lynn Posey, a recent party switcher. The Republican primary would have been a rematch of the 2007 general election, but Barbour is now running for the open District 25 Senate seat.

What this means:

** I don’t expect Barbour to be the only candidate in the SD25 race. There are a lot of Republicans in the district who would make serious candidates, but the former Hinds County supervisor and nephew of Gov. Haley Barbour is certainly a very strong candidate.

** Does the Jackson Free Press remove their February 17th ‘Person of the Day’ honor for Barbour? Their main reason for profiling him: He was running against Posey, a man his uncle recruited to switch parties but the nephew threw a very major monkey-wrench into the GOP’s plans at the time. According to the story, what Charles Barbour would do was none of his uncle’s business.

** For Posey, this is good news. He avoids a primary as the qualifying deadline has passed. He does have two Democratic opponents, but it is clear sailing until November. It’s also good for future party-switches. Democrats would have likely used the GOP primary as a good story to remind party members that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.