Another GOP Stronghold Goes Democratic

Travis Childers Becomes Third Dem Elected This Year In Special Elections For Congressional Seats Traditionally Held By GOP

(AP)  It's becoming a disturbing trend for Republicans: losing traditional GOP strongholds to Democrats in some hard-fought congressional races.

It happened again Tuesday, as Travis Childers beat Greg Davis in a special election to replace Republican Roger Wicker, who served in the House since 1994 and was appointed to the U.S. Senate to fill the seat vacated by Trent Lott.

Childers' win will give him the chance over the next several months left in the seat's two-year term to build a fundraising and publicity advantage as he heads into November's general election. He will again face Davis, as well as two other opponents.

Childers' win gave Democrats a 236-199 edge over Republicans in Congress.

Earlier this year, Democrats captured the Illinois district long represented by former Republican Speaker Dennis Hastert, who resigned from Congress. This month, Democrats claimed a seat in Louisiana that Republican Rep. Richard Baker vacated and that the GOP had held since 1974.

Childers is a socially conservative county official, while Davis is mayor of a fast-growing city across the state line from Memphis, Tenn.

Vice President Dick Cheney campaigned for Davis the day before the special election, and Davis ran ads trying to tie Childers to Barack Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and the national Democratic Party's policies.

Childers stressed his independence, emphasizing his support of gun rights and opposition to abortion. He said his values match those of most voters in the deeply conservative district.

Tom Cole, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said the Mississippi race showed that "Republicans must be prepared to campaign against Democrat challengers who are running as conservatives, even as they try to join a liberal Democrat majority."

Cole said voters are "pessimistic about the direction of the country and the Republican Party in general" and the GOP must offer "positive change."

Marty Wiseman, a political scientist at Mississippi State University, said if Democrats can carry districts that traditionally have been safe bets for the GOP, "Republican strategists have to be terrified."

"If you think about the House and the Senate ... and the number of Republican Senate seats that are exposed, this could turn into something bigger than the presidential race this fall," Wiseman said.

Elsewhere, in right-leaning Nebraska, Republican Mike Johanns, the former U.S. agriculture secretary and Nebraska governor, easily won the Republican primary Tuesday in a race to replace retiring Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel. On the Democrat side, Scott Kleeb beat three other Democrats.

And in West Virginia, a conflict-of-interest scandal derailed the state's top judge from serving another term. With 97 percent of precincts reporting, Chief Justice Elliott "Spike" Maynard, once considered a shoo-in for re-election, was third in a field of four candidates.

The two top vote-getters will face the lone Republican in the race for two high court spots in November.

Maynard lost his advantage when photos surfaced in January of him vacationing with the chief executive of a massive coal producer. He faced a former justice, a Huntington lawyer and a West Virginia University law professor.

Maynard raised the most money, and his allies included the state's chamber of commerce and medical association. But the photos taken during a 2006 Monaco vacation, when he met up with Massey Energy Co.'s chief executive, quickly became campaign fodder.

Maynard blamed the furor on political foes, but withdrew from several Massey-related cases. He had said he would do the same if re-elected.

West Virginia Sen. Jay Rockefeller, who hasn't lost a statewide race since 1972, easily beat two challengers as he seeks a fifth six-year term. He'll face Republican Jay Wolfe in November's general election.

Gov. Joe Manchin easily fended off a primary challenge and will take on Republican Russ Weeks, a former state senator, in November.

[jerr11]

Just a road bump in the road to victory for McCain.

With things as rosy as they are in the country, why should we change direction?

Gas at $4 a gallon.

4072 killed in Iraq.

$3 trillion squandered in Iraq.

Heck we need four more years of the same!

Go McCain Go!

94 MORE YEARS 94 MORE YEARS!

(in Iraq, that is)

[brianbwb-2009]

"these folks did not vote for barack obama. they voted for an anti-abortion pro-gun rights conservative democrat, period." Posted by ccfsdca

Absolutely, but I think that Americans are finally waking up to the fact that the name of one''s party means absolutely nothing anymore, they voted for an anti-abortion pro-gun rights conservative person, period.

It also suggests that "Republican" politicians have totally ruined their party''s brand name, which is now indelibly linked with corruption, collusion, fascism, war, intolerance, financial mismanagement, and personal perversion, and the truly funny part is that they did it to themselves.

[incog-nito]

these folks did not vote for barack obama. they voted for an anti-abortion pro-gun rights conservative democrat, period.

Posted by ccfsdca at 01:16 AM : May 14, 2008

Good try at spinning. First, you get to keep your guns anyway, and Roe v. Wade won''t change anytime soon, so while those make great "wedge" issues, they don''t matter. On those issues that matter, like health care and taxes and the war and judges, he will vote with the party. You lose.

[mcvet]

these folks did not vote for barack obama. they voted for an anti-abortion pro-gun rights conservative democrat, period.


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Posted by ccfsdca at 01:16 AM : May 14, 2008
+ report abuse

Yeah right! That''s why Darth went to the state? That''s why the Reich spent MILLIONS? Just keep on with the excuses sparky... the day of Wedge issues like you post is GONE. Now, when confronted with the basic EVIL and Corruption of Bush and the Religious Reich, American''s can see for themselves what the Republican Party has become. It ain''t good and NOTHING anyone can say will make it so. By the way his BIGGEST promise? He would NOT vote for anymore Free Trade Agreements!! SIEG HEIL BUSH

[skyk-2009]

This may well be the biggest win in modern times. What is says to all concerned is that we have MORE in common than we do to divide each other. We may not agree on all issues but we do not have to reject each other because of ONE issue or ONE point of view. We MUST bind the massive wounds inflicted by two terms of George Bush with the HATE and DIVIDE Politic''s that made him possible. If we do NOT then we as a nation are no more.

[ms38654ob]

One heck of a mud-slinging contest between the two. The hate mail was flying thicker than mosquitoes in summer.

Both candidates are essentially equal so this isn''t any ground shattering election, but the fact that a democrat one in a 90% republican stronghold is very interesting.

One weird thing - the ballot didn''t indicate the party of the individual candidates. Never saw that before.

[macusweil]

Until the GOP will renounce Bush and his corrupt failed policies, to admit the severe damage he has done to this country the Republican party will be relegated to the absolute fringe in national politics.

[mcvet]

One heck of a mud-slinging contest between the two. The hate mail was flying thicker than mosquitoes in summer.

Both candidates are essentially equal so this isn''''t any ground shattering election, but the fact that a democrat one in a 90% republican stronghold is very interesting.

One weird thing - the ballot didn''''t indicate the party of the individual candidates. Never saw that before.


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Posted by ms38654ob at 07:24 AM : May 14, 2008
+ report abuse

ROFLMAO YOU have got to be kidding!! The fascist brought in Darth for god''s sake... they imported vid from the Sleaze Dog Bush himself. YOU don''t think ANYONE in Mississippi didn''t know who the Democrat and who the Republican was??? ROFLMAO Wow! Sieg Heil Bush

[ms38654ob]

ROFLMAO YOU have got to be kidding!! The fascist brought in Darth for god''''s sake... they imported vid from the Sleaze Dog Bush himself. YOU don''''t think ANYONE in Mississippi didn''''t know who the Democrat and who the Republican was??? ROFLMAO Wow! Sieg Heil Bush

Posted by MCVet at 07:41 AM : May 14, 2008

You actually think the average voter can remember anything beyond the last TV commercial? Most will just go and vote their party. It''s all they can do. Childers was first on the ballot, so that''s really why he must have won. No democrat in recent history has won any election, not even a dog catcher, in DeSoto county. They people in this county are rabid republicans, not thinking people.

[Gary Kempf]

Cheney''s response to the news of lose of another Republican seat;

Where''s my d*mn sho gun?
Who dares to ingore my wishes?

[lilvinnyb]

Another example of a CONSERVATIVE democrat winning. And incog-nito is totally wrong. As we saw in the latest military bill, conservative democrats DO NOT votes in favor of large entitlement programs. They also DO NOT vote for liberal judges.

So while all the time the Democrats talk about how proud they are to be "progressive (cough, i mean liberal), they NEVER seem to run as such.

[quetzalcrist]

have a great day repugs, this is sure to
pour vinegar into an already festering wound!

[leftyintexas]

BYE BYE REPUBLICONS! BYE BYE! HA!HA!HA!

[leftyintexas]

Another example of a CONSERVATIVE democrat winning. And incog-nito is totally wrong. As we saw in the latest military bill, conservative democrats DO NOT votes in favor of large entitlement programs. They also DO NOT vote for liberal judges.

So while all the time the Democrats talk about how proud they are to be "progressive (cough, i mean liberal), they NEVER seem to run as such.

Posted by lilvinnyb at 08:42 AM : May 14, 2008

Spin it Republicon! Spin it! Ha! Ha! Ha!

[singingrick]

Republicons came to power saying that Washington didn''t work anymore and needing fixing. Then they proved it by bankrupting the government and selling out the halls of the capital to the highest bidders.

Goodbye Republicons.

[taotxzen]

HUGE!

[b-easy63]

"Maynard blamed the furor on political foes, but withdrew from several Massey-related cases. He had said he would do the same if re-elected."

Why can''t Maynard buddy up to the person he will be ruling on? Scalia from the SCOTUS did the same thing. Remember when he went duck hunting with Cheney then refused to recuse himself from a case pending before him involving Cheney? Of course he went on to shoot down that case and protect his hunting buddy--no conflict of interest right?

[mcvet]

Another example of a CONSERVATIVE democrat winning. And incog-nito is totally wrong. As we saw in the latest military bill, conservative democrats DO NOT votes in favor of large entitlement programs. They also DO NOT vote for liberal judges.

So while all the time the Democrats talk about how proud they are to be "progressive (cough, i mean liberal), they NEVER seem to run as such.


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Posted by lilvinnyb at 08:42 AM : May 14, 2008
+ report abuse

You know for some reason I think your Hate Target, "Liberal" isn''t working anymore. What this says is that America is still alive and well... yes we can be both Liberal and Conservative in the same party... yes we can compromise and move forward. You freaks ran elections on Wedge Issues and Hate for your neighbor because they were "Liberal". You based that on the fact that they did not agree with the leaders of the "Party" on one issue or maybe two. America is proving to be smarter than that... they are showing you fascist that we can and will go on and build a better nation. Now lets stand and let Cheney know a few still support him here!! Oh OKAY ONE still supports him here. SIEG HEIL MEIN FUHRER!!

[taotxzen]

"Vice President *** Cheney campaigned for Davis the day before the special election, and Davis ran ads trying to tie Childers to Barack Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and the national Democratic Party''s policies."

Do you know what this means? If this tactic didn''t work, traditional Republican fear and smear, then they may actually have to run on the issues!

The War
The Economy
The Environment
Health Care
Ethics
Education
Tax Breaks to the top 10%

[pensacola88]

Way to go Travis!! I Hope you win your re-election bid in November!!

[taotxzen]

More Great News:

Young Evangelicals Abandoning GOP Over Iraq, Economy

Michael Dudley is the son of a preacher man.

He''s a born-again Christian with two family members in the military. He grew up in the Bible Belt, where almost everyone he knew was Republican. But this fall, he''s breaking a handful of stereotypes: He plans to vote for Democrat Barack Obama.

"I think a lot of Christians are having trouble getting behind everything the Republicans stand for," said Dudley, 20, a sophomore at Seattle Pacific University.

[roger_inkart]

Dems go 3-0 in specials while the GOP languishes at 0-3. It seems that trying to make this a referendum on Obama backfired as people were turned off by the appearance of Republicans playing the race card. Well, it was about the only card they had I suppose. It''s not like they could run on their record.

This is good news for the nation.

[notblue]

People lose site of the fact that these candidates are not African American or female, it will be more interesting in the general election.

[nolalou]

These folks did not vote for barack obama. they voted for an anti-abortion pro-gun rights conservative democrat, period. Posted by ccfsdca

Oh? Are you from that district, and do you know what issues people there voted on? Look at the official web site of Travis Childers , he makes no mention of pro-giun or anti-abortion positions! Instead he mentions some of the same things proposed by Obama, such as unfair trade deals and incentives that send or jobs overseas, billions in subsidies to oil companies, and health care reform!

In other words, ccfsdca, you are a typical Republican who don''t have a clue what the hell he''s talking about!!

[forthepeopl1]

common sense is all that is needed.here it is.
the whitehouse say no way to help americans possibility of bailout for individual mortgage holders, singling out the growing number
going "under water" as their loans exceed the diminishing value of their properties.

please this is a simple thing to fix, why are you bending over for all of the wallstreet scum.
you have the right to do what this paulson/ben did for wallstreet,saying they had to to save america. so you can say the same thing, but this time you would be saveing america, and not wallstreet.
you must come out and stop the forcloseing of all these millions of homes, now,
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS MANDATE THAT ALL MORTGAGES THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT FROM 2000 TO 2007 BY ALL AMERICANS TO BE RE-FI A.S.A.P. NO EXCEPTIONS,


NO MATTER WHAT THE CREDIT IS, THEY WILL RE-FI EVERYONE AT JUST OVER PRIME, AND AT A RATE OF 40% OF WHAT IS OWED ON THE PROPERTY( PERSONAL HOMES ONLY)!!
WHY, BECAUSE MOST HOST ARE SELLING AT FORCLOSER FOR 20 TO 30 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR, SO AS TO WHAT PAULSON SAID TO BEARSTEARN 2 DOLLARS IS BETTER THAN NO DOLLARS SO TAKE THE DEAL..NOW REMEMBER ALL OF YOU, IF THIS COMPANY IN 6 MONTHS LOST 98% OF THEIR VALUE FROM 700 BILLION TO WHAT IS IT NOW. AND FOR SOMEONE TO COME IN AND BUY IT FOR NOTHING, WHAT IS THE REAL VALUE OF ALL THESE HOMES???NOBODY KNOWS, SO WHY NOT JUST START OVER??? AND STOP THE BLEEDING FOR ALL AMERICANS.

[e-mail]
DAVID A BELANGER

[jjp735i]

People are tired of the Republican Right. We do not want to live under a Nazi like govenment. That failed once and will fail again. Too bad the fiscal conservatives did not separate them selves from the social right, they could have done some good if they had.

[superdem]

I don''t know where it gets us to have Democrats who oppose a woman''s reproductive rights - but it''s a step in the right direction, so I''ll take even baby steps in Mississippi. Better to light one candle than to curse the darkness. SWEEP OUT ALL REPUBLICANS.

[Gary Kempf]

I don''''t know where it gets us to have Democrats who oppose a woman''''s reproductive rights - but it''''s a step in the right direction, so I''''ll take even baby steps in Mississippi. Better to light one candle than to curse the darkness. SWEEP OUT ALL REPUBLICANS.


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Posted by superdem at 09:33


I agree with you 100%

[tonyd_31]

the writing is on the wall for the Neo-Cons to start packing their bags for the trip to Canada. But perhaps they might want to check with the Canadians to see if they can come as I doubt any civilized country wants the Neo-Cons in their populace (unless Nazi Germany was still in existence).

[tonyd_31]

the writing is on the wall for the Neo-Cons to start packing their bags for the trip to Canada. But perhaps they might want to check with the Canadians to see if they can come as I doubt any civilized country wants the Neo-Cons in their populace (unless Nazi Germany was still in existence).

[mike71067]

If The Democrats taket the White House and Congress, and that''s probably what will happen, then in 2010 we''ll have a Republican Congress again.

The Democrats, being far too stupid to learn from their past mistakes (1994), will repeat them.

A Democrat majority will last until 2010.

[mike71067]

"People are tired of the Republican Right. We do not want to live under a Nazi like govenment."
-Posted by jjp735i at 09:33 AM : May 14, 2008

You''re far too stupid to engage in rational conversation. To compare Bush to what Hitler did during WWII is retarded. I won''t even go into specifics. Read some books, if you''re capable.

[singingrick]

Republicons came to power saying that Washington didn''t work anymore and needing fixing. Then they proved it by bankrupting the government and selling out the halls of the capital to the highest bidders.

Goodbye Republicons.

[concorde5]

Mike.... I think Bush and Hitler are VERY similar.

[mike71067]

"The camps at guantanimo, holding prisoners indefinately without trial, slaughtering hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, stripping Americans of their rights of privacy and justice."
-Posted by tru_america1 at 09:54 AM : May 14, 2008

Not to shock you, stupid, but there''s a war going on. People die. And you cannot name a single instance when any of your rights of privacy were compromised. Period. You simply can''t. Shut up already.

[jimfinster]

"People are tired of the Republican Right. We do not want to live under a Nazi like govenment."
-Posted by jjp735i at 09:33 AM : May 14, 2008

You''''re far too stupid to engage in rational conversation. To compare Bush to what Hitler did during WWII is retarded. I won''''t even go into specifics. Read some books, if you''''re capable.

Posted by mike71067


I would suggest that YOU read some books.

The Bush admin has used a strong sense of nationalism combined with a fear of other groups or forces to sell their agenda. The constant call to arms over the threat of "terrorists" is very similar to what Hitler did using the Jews. Hitler also portrayed his strategy as a war of "good against evil". Sound familiar? Go back and read some of Hitlers early speeches. Substitute a few words here and there, and it is Bush.

[mike71067]

"Mike.... I think Bush and Hitler are VERY similar."
-Posted by concorde5 at 09:54 AM : May 14, 2008

Then I can''t help you. Nobody can.

[singingrick]

mike71067


You''d do better to defend your country than the failed policies of a failed ideology and a failed President.

[mike71067]

"The constant call to arms over the threat of "terrorists" is very similar to what Hitler did using the Jews."
-Posted by jimfinster at 09:56 AM : May 14, 2008

Sorry stupid, but Hitler demonized the Jews. Terrorists demonized themselves.

[concorde5]

The patriot act rolled back many privacy rights. Bush has eavesdropped on many innocent americans phone conversations. Remember Bush said if he does something it can''t be illegal because he''s the president.

What a shame.

[mike71067]

"You''d do better to defend your country than the failed policies of a failed ideology and a failed President."
-Posted by singingrick at 09:58 AM : May 14, 2008

You''re stupid, and you don''t make sense. Please shut up now.

[roger_inkart]

You''''re far too stupid to engage in rational conversation. To compare Bush to what Hitler did during WWII is retarded.

Posted by mike71067 at 09:47 AM : May 14, 2008

''Retarded''? And you''re talking sh.it about people not being able to ''engage in rational conversation''? Ok, how about you take your own advice and not use terms that a 13 year old girl would?

[mike71067]

"The patriot act rolled back many privacy rights. Bush has eavesdropped on many innocent americans phone conversations."
-Posted by concorde5 at 09:59 AM : May 14, 2008

Name one. You can''t.

If someone from a known terrorist group contacts someone here in the U.S., or vise-verse, our government BETTER be listening in.

[jimfinster]

%u201CWhen facism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.%u201D

Sinclair Lewis

[concorde5]

Hitler painted the Jews and a threat to the Germans. Bush painted the Iraqis as a threat to the Americans.

Hitler killed thousands of innocent Jews.
Bush has killed thousands of innocent Iraqis.

Hitler locked innocent Jews in Concentration camps.
Bush locked innocent Arabs in Guantanamo Bay.

They seem very similar to me.

[mike71067]

"Is this the GOP has resorted to now?"
-Posted by jh6379 at 10:01 AM : May 14, 2008

The Democrats have lost their minds.

[mike71067]

Posted by roger_inkart at 10:00 AM : May 14, 2008

Thanks for your full name. Please provide your SSN also.

[jimfinster]

"The constant call to arms over the threat of "terrorists" is very similar to what Hitler did using the Jews."
-Posted by jimfinster at 09:56 AM : May 14, 2008

Sorry stupid, but Hitler demonized the Jews. Terrorists demonized themselves.

Posted by mike71067



Sorry dipshit, but the point is valid. Bush has characterized anyone that does not agree with him as a terrorist. Only mind-numbed robots like you do not get it.

[concorde5]

Mike you have been brainwashed by the NeoCon madness. You see everything through Bush-Colored glasses. You should really start putting the good of the country ahead of party affilliations.

[jimfinster]

Mike you have been brainwashed by the NeoCon madness. You see everything through Bush-Colored glasses. You should really start putting the good of the country ahead of party affilliations.

Posted by concorde5



Excellent post.