Davis Promised Seat On Veterans' Affairs

One day after Democrats promised a committee assignment to their candidate in the Mississippi special election, Republicans followed suit on Friday, promising Greg Davis a spot on the Veterans' Affairs Committee should be win next Tuesday.

This race has taken on major symbolic importance for the GOP after the party lost two seats in special elections earlier this year, including one last weekend in Louisiana. Republicans are scrambling desperately to hold the seat in order to reverse that troubling trend.

Veterans' Affairs isn't always the most coveted committee on Capitol Hill, but the congressional district includes Columbus Air Force Base and veterans comprise nearly 12 percent of the population.

Davis will also enjoy a visit over the weekend from Vice President Dick Cheney and heavy campaigning by Republican Gov. Haley Barbour, Republican Sen. Thad Cochran and former GOP Sen. Trent Lott.

The Republican is running neck-and-neck with Democrat Travis Childers. Most GOP members, aides and operatives acknowledge that the most recent polling suggests Childers has a slight edge in a predominantly Republican seat, and that those numbers remain unchanged despite heavy adverstising by both sides.