Mississippi Senate race heats up

Thu, January 24, 2008 - 1:42 PM

Republican Roger Wicker was just sworn in as Mississippi’s newest senator this week.

Wicker, who was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1994, was appointed by Republican Gov. Haley Barbour and hopes to win a special election for the seat.

But it looks like the race to permanently keep the Senate seat vacated by Trent Lott is heating up.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee launched a new Web site Wednesday focusing on Democratic candidate and former Mississippi Governor Ronnie Musgrove.

The site says Musgrove is wrong for Mississippi.

The new site is an indication that Republicans are worried about losing the seat, said Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

“I think it’s a sign that the Republicans are nervous,” he said.

Former Democratic congressman Ronnie Shows also plans to run for the seat.

A special election has been set for Nov. 4, but a lawsuit seeking to hold the election sooner is pending. A decision is expected as soon as Friday.

-- Amy Dominello