Cochran Running For Re-election

Five-term Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) announced he will be running for re-election in 2008, quashing rumors that he was considering retiring.

"While I delayed making this decision until after our state and local government elections were over, there is no reason to delay any longer,” Cochran said in a statement.

"I have enjoyed serving in the Senate and I am highly honored to have had the support and encouragement to continue this service from friends throughout the state.”

Mississippi is a reliably Republican state, giving President Bush 59 percent of the vote in 2004. Cochran is unlikely to face serious Democratic opposition, having won with at least 61 percent of the vote in all of his re-election bids.