Hard work may determine outcome

By By William F. West / community editor
Aug. 1, 2002
A political science professor believes a major key to the outcome of the 3rd Congressional District election contest is whether Democrat Ronnie Shows can out-campaign Republican Chip Pickering.
Parker, 67, who teaches at the University of Southern Mississippi, said blue-collar workers comprise the Magnolia State's swing votes.
Pickering and Shows were scheduled to debate at the Neshoba County Fair this afternoon.
Parker said he believes that the Neshoba debate will have "relatively little impact" on the outcome of the contest.
Parker said he believes the contest may come down to the styles of Pickering and Shows.
Shows is an extremely effective campaigner, Parker said.
In addition, Shows is a home boy, Parker said.
On the other side, the Pickering name "has a certain credibility in Mississippi politics," Parker said.
He was referring to Pickering's father, Charles, a U.S. District Court judge, former state senator and a former leader of the Southern Baptist Convention. Parker was also quick to note that Shows is a Baptist.
The younger Pickering and Shows "have been campaigning since their last election, in one sense, day-by-day, answering their mail and coming back to their constituency," Parker said.