Barbour, Musgrove face close governor's race

By By William F. West / community editor
March 2, 2003
A Mississippi political expert says it's still early to predict a winner in the governor's race, but he's leaning toward Republican hopeful Haley Barbour over Democratic incumbent Ronnie Musgrove.
Wiseman said he believes Musgrove's chief Democratic opponent, attorney John Arthur Eaves Jr., has the potential to be a colorful candidate like his father, John Arthur Eaves, who last ran for governor in 1987.
The governor's race finally took shape on Saturday, the deadline for candidates to qualify for state office in this year's elections. Musgrove and Eaves are the top Democratic candidates, Barbour is the top GOP.
Also running for the job: Democrats Elder E. McClendon, Catherine M. Starr, Gilbert Fountain and Katie Perrone; Republican Mitchell H. Tyner Sr.; Green Party candidate Sherman Lee Dillon; and Reform Party candidate Shawn O'Hara.
Tough time
Wiseman said he believes the younger Eaves will have a difficult time trying to arouse the old-time populism the way his father did.
Wiseman said he's not saying there's not a populist sentiment in Mississippi. Rather, he said, he believes door-to-door campaigning and stump-speaking have become things of the past.
But Wiseman said he sees a good contrast in philosophy and style between Barbour, the Yazoo City native and Washington, D.C., lobbyist, and Musgrove, a Batesville resident and the former lieutenant governor.
Wiseman said Barbour is the traditional, doctrinaire Republican who espouses "a little bit to the right, hard-nosed conservative politics." Wiseman said Musgrove brings "more of a typical Democratic social agenda" combined with a tireless work ethic.
Lieutenant governor
Wiseman also said he believes the lieutenant governor's race will be interesting given incumbent Amy Tuck's switch from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party.
He said he'll be watching to see whether Tuck, will attract support from the old-line Democratic leaders who still dominate many Mississippi courthouses.
Wiseman said that Jim Roberts is a capable candidate for the state's No. 2 position. Roberts, a Democrat, is a former state public safety commissioner and state Supreme Court justice.
Wiseman said he believes Roberts would have made a strong candidate for state attorney general had he known that incumbent Mike Moore would retire from the top legal position.
But Wiseman said the Mississippi Democratic Party has some soul-searching to do. Wiseman said the Democrats need to have strength in their ticket, from governor to constable.