Thursday Observations From Neshoba
PHILADELPHIA- Political speaking ended today with a large crowd present to see Haley Barbour’s last speech as supporters wore shirts and waved signs that said “Thanks Haley.” Barbour’s speech was traditional Barbour, touching on many of his administration’s accomplishments of the past eight years and a look into the future. Barbour would say there are some really good candidates running for governor, and that was as far as he went in that regard.
About speeches from those who will be on the ballot next Tuesday:
** The four main candidates for governor spoke just before Barbour. Again, not a whole lot new from anybody with the same campaign themes we have been hearing. Phil Bryant brought the largest crowd, gave his stump speech, and certainly thrived in the environment. Dave Dennis brought up a couple issues directly related to Bryant like Miss America and NASCAR, but never mentioned his name. But for the most part Dennis emphasized his private sector background as a contrast to Bryant’s. Bryant, for his part, defended his career in office and there were no fireworks.
Bill Luckett and Johnny DuPree had some supporters there, also stuck to their campaign themes, and Luckett only made a few indirect mentions of Bryant, which is somewhat different than his past actions. He did bring his tool-belt which has been featured in his campaign ads.
** None of the treasurer candidates made mention of their opponents, with only statements like “I’m the only candidate who has…” or “I have a unique background of the candidates that includes…” Certainly nothing direct, and that is what we have seen during the campaign up to this point. Perhaps if it goes to a runoff we will see a different story, but the lack of frontrunner might just make it hard to do so right now.
Yesterday I stated that the insurance commissioner should be appointed. I am not saying the treasurer should as well, but when the three candidates went into detail they probably lose most people. That is why you hear candidates for this office talk about key endorsements, pro-life issues, and other things people can relate to. They want someone who is like them, and when you get to the X’s and O’s of what the treasurer does it gets boring real quick. Crowds for Lynn Ficth, Lucien Smith, and Lee Yancey seemed about the same size; I believe Fitch was the only one to charter a bus.
** Secretary of State candidates Delbert Hosemann and Ricky Dombrowski spoke in the middle of the other candidates this morning. Dombrowski went over most of his campaign themes as I imagine most people were hearing him for the same time. He tried to get the point across that he wasn’t a one issue, local candidate, but I’m not sure it went over too well in the very pro-Hosemann crowd.
I was somewhat surprised that Hosemann directly went after Dombrowski. He never rebutted his opponent but brought up the times he has chosen not to vote in the past, as he detailed in a recent mailer. The line “if you’re not too busy to vote” was mentioned many times in Hosemann’s speech.
** All in all, I don’t think anyone necessarily gained or lost too much over the past two days. There was not much that was unexpected in my view as the races are about to hit their final weekend before the primary.
** One legislative observation from the week is that Democratic Senate candidate Steven Kilgore appeared to have a pretty good following at the fair. He is running against incumbent Republican Giles Ward in the Neshoba county district. Ward knocked off Democrat Gloria Williamson four years ago, and you’d think the incumbent is the favorite, but Kilgore is certainly not someone Ward can just walk over.
The four main candidates for governor?
Who determined Bryant and Dennis to be the only ‘main’ contenders with Hudson Holliday, a self-made millionaire, entrepreneurial businessman with multiple businesses including a construction firm Dennis’ has done sub-contractor work for and a retired Army National Guard general with a proved record of leadership not being considered one as well?
It appears this was based on campaign funding and that at the time the birth of the term ‘two front runners’ was created.
To my knowledge no reporter looked into Holliday’s vast business interests or did as I did and simply Google the state contractor licensing board to get the facts on Dennis’ ‘Minority Contractor’ status (license #05062-MC). Today AP reporter Emily Pettus wrote a glowing article on Dennis, saying he said the company has never sought or received special treatment. I wonder if Emily went to the basics of Journalism 101 and checked on this. “Minority Contractor” status means a firm gets to bid on certain government contracts that companies that ‘are not’ minority status are not allowed to bid on.
I like Dave personally but I’m doubtful that in all the years he and Jane have run the business began by his father-in-law they’ve never gotten any government work based on their status. If not, why have a license designated as a ‘minority contractor’.
The last retired military officer we had for governor was Kirk Fordice. Dennis and Bryant like to coat-tail Fordice but neither has any military experience, much less the proven record of a general.
The race will soon be over and for the first time in 52 years in journalism, I’m seeing a handful of newspaper reporters or columnists select who would be covered and absolutely ignore doing the research to get full facts on all candidate and letting the records of the candidates be revealed to the public. This is much like a throwback to the William Randolph Hearst era of journalism.
A vote for Hudson or Ron is a vote for Phil. So ironic that the two candidates who really oppose Phil, most especially Ron, are the reason Phil will avoid a runoff and go on to be our next governor. Have y’all seen ole Ron’s video “Had your Phil”? Well ole Ron is doing all he can to insure we will all have our Phil of Phil at least for the next 4 years. The million or so bucks that Ron spent out of his own pocket are nothing more than indirect funds to Phil’s campaign. Right now my “Phil Friends” are giddy with the inroads Ron has made into Dave’s anti-Phil voters. They absolutely love Ron for siphoning off votes from Dave (my fav candidate) that he needed to force a runoff. Without question Phil would have some vulnerabilities in a runoff. So great job Ron in doing all you can to insure Phil becomes our next governor! And I’m sure he greatly appreciates the million or so bucks that you, indirectly, contributed to his campaign. Hey, this kinda makes you Phil’s largest contributor of both votes and dollars! So thanks partly to you we will all have our Phil of Phil for the next 4 years!
I’m somehow failing to make my point and that is Holliday is far more qualified for the role than is Dennis. True Dennis is a successful businessman but not to the degree of Holliday and Holliday, like Fordice (who Dennis likes to tell about making his re-election announcement from Dennis’ home) is a retired military officer with proven leadership capability.
Holliday is an elected supervisor who was encouraged to seek the office by others in his county and this role is done more so for true ‘public service’ and not for the money. Dennis ties to politics are all within the GOP establishment who wins with either Dave or Phil.
If Holliday were not in the race, I too would be for Dave but facts are facts. the evidence is there. Holliday possesses genuine business success, military leadership and being elected to an office, not appointed.
I think if Dave were not in the race and/or had the press not deliberately under reported Holliday’s qualifications and experience that Holliday could face Phil in the runoff and stand a better chance of winning the nomination than Dave. If Dave wins, the GOP establishment wins either way, with him or Phil.
Hudson Holiday has no chance. At all. Everybody knows that.
Salty, why? Apparently we liked Fordice, we kept him eight years. Bill Minor says Holliday is more Fordice than Fordice himself and I understand Sid Salter says there’s similarities. If you put the qualifications of and Bryant, Dennis and Holliday alongside each other it looks like the old Sears-Roebuck listing of ‘good’, ‘better’ and ‘best’.
Maybe the thing for Dennis to have done when he realized Holliday was serious about the race and compared their qualifications would have been for him to have dropped out.
Again, I like Dennis and if Holliday were not in the race, would be enthusiastically supporting him. But there’s plenty buzz in GOP circles that Dennis wanted to run for governor eight years ago and the way I see it is Dennis wants to be governor while Holliday wants to be in the position of leadership to get things done. One wants the position, the other the responsibility.
Quoting liberals like Bill Minor isn’t really helping sale the case that ole Hudson should be anywhere near the governor’s office.
I think there is a reason that the fair had the four candidates who spoke before lunch speak before lunch. It wasn’t a coincidence.
Funny but I think you’re absolutely right. If I were paranoid I’d see some sort of a conspiracy in the media and event schedulers insuring the GOP race is between Bryant and Dennis. Got a more than qualified long shot kept in the dark while GOP insiders and the media insure the public only see and hear their choices for governor.
But hey, Fordice beat Johnson and Johnson had the backing of the GOP power brokers.
Fordice was a long-time R contributor and insider with the R big dogs when he ran. Much like Dave. He wasn’t a totally new face to the party faithful as Hudson is. I don’t think anyone is saying Hudson isnt a good man and wouldn’t be a good governor. At least I’m not saying this. What I’m hearing and saying is that he just don’t stand a chance. Very few voters even know who he is. His name recognition is way below Ron and Dave. If he could get into a runoff with Phil then who knows…But it just ain’t gonna happen. It will be Phil with 60% plus of the vote with Dave a very distant 2nd and Ron not far behind Dave. With Hudson as the caboose. Had Hudson dumped a cupla million bucks of his own dough into his campaign a few months back he may have made a race outa it. Same goes for Dave. Didn’t matter if Ron had O’bamas war chest, he isn’t electable…just way too much baggage out there that woulda come out if he had been a serious candidate. Hudson may very well be the best candidate but it just ain’t gonna happen. It’s Phil in a landslide with much thanks goin to ole Ron whose really helping him over the finish line without a runoff.
Your continued analysis that Ron is taking votes away from a possible runoff is flawed. Any vote for candidates other than Phil is a vote for a runoff because it would keep Phil under 50% plus 1.
Well I guess we will see how it all shakes out next week. But I’m still predicting Phil with a solid 55-60%. But if Dave can force a runoff then we will have a real horse-race in the runoff.
Coast,
You say Ron is taking votes from Dave which is making people vote for Phil. How did you come to that conclusion? please explain, not sure I understand.
Coast Rat, pretty good analysis. I guess my best hope is that our present and former members of the military recognize there’s enough of them to swing an election and decide to vote for General Holliday.
Charlie
Where did the general achive his rank?
C, Mississippi National Guard, line officer.
Hey, re quoting Bill Minor, liberal or not, Bill still sees Holliday as much like Fordice. He didn’t say whether he liked either one of them.