Surprise, Surprise
MS voters like to surprise. Just as in the 3/11 primary, this p.m.'s runoff results turned the c.w. on its head.
In MS-01, the early frontrunner, Southaven Mayor Greg Davis (R) overcame a poor showing in the primary to defeat ex-Tupelo Mayor/ex-TVA chair Glenn McCullough (R), 51-49%. Davis, who had commanding leads in his own polls heading into the primary, took a disappointing second in that contest, and many thought he couldn't recover his lost momentum. He hit McCullough hard on McCullough's time as TVA chair, and his defensive posture suggested he was behind.
Davis will face Prentiss Co. Chancery Clerk Travis Childers (D) in the fall. Childers defeated state state Rep. Steve Holland (D) 57-43% for the Dem nomination, and some GOPers, according to Politico, believe the conservative Childers can give Davis a run for his money in the very solid GOP CD. If he did, it would certainly be a huge disappointment for the GOP.
In the even more-GOP solid MS-03, ex-Rankin Co. GOP Chair Gregg Harper (R) overcame state Sen. Charlie Ross' (R) support from the Club for Growth and NRA and earned the come-from-behind victory, 57-43%. He emerged from a very congested 3/11 primary and surprised with his second-place showing. Few thought he'd be able to translate that into a first-place finish against the heavily-favored Ross, but he did.
Harper will face Pickens Alderman Joel Gill (D) in the fall, and is the prohibitive favorite.
(TIM SAHD)