Attorney general's race
gains early momentum

By By Terry Cassreino / assistant managing editor
March 30, 2003
Mississippi's statewide elections are eight months away, but the race to replace Attorney General Mike Moore already has taken an early, critical twist.
Republican John Kitchens dropped out of the race last week. And in a surprise to many political observers, Kitchens threw his support to Democrat Jim Hood Moore's pick to take over the job.
The move stunned the state GOP because Kitchens a former district attorney and circuit judge in Rankin and Madison counties was considered the party's front-runner.
Meanwhile, Hood welcomed Kitchens' public endorsement. In fact, Hood, a district attorney in North Mississippi, was headed to Jackson for a court appearance Wednesday when Kitchens called.
Hood, the sole Democrat running for the job, will now meet Scott Newton of Ridgeland, the sole Republican, in the Nov. 4 general election. At stake is the state's top legal officer and adviser.
Republican moves
Now the pressure is on the state Republican Party first to offset the embarrassing sting of Kitchens' decision and then to boost Newton's presence and name recognition in Mississippi.
Jim Herring, state GOP chairman, said last week he feels good about Newton's candidacy.
Newton, himself, issued a statement after Kitchens' announcement.
Newton, though, could have a tough road ahead particularly since his only opponent already has the wholehearted support and backing of Mississippi's most popular attorney general.
At one time, Moore had been considered among many political observers as a prime candidate for governor and an almost-certain bet to unseat incumbent Democrat Ronnie Musgrove.
Moore's decision
But Moore surprised many people when he announced in February he wouldn't run for governor and said he also wouldn't seek a fifth term as state attorney general.
Instead, Moore threw his support behind Hood a fellow Ole Miss graduate who once worked as an assistant attorney general under Moore from August 1990 to November 1995.
While with the attorney general's office, Hood ran the drug forfeiture unit of the public integrity division. Hood also worked in consumer protection and in the public lands division.
Hood left Moore's office in 1995 after he was elected district attorney for the counties of Benton, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Lafayette, Marshall, Tippah and Union. Hood has had the job since January 1996.
If elected attorney general, Hood said many things will likely stay the same. He said he shares many of the same priorities as Moore including an emphasis on law enforcement and crime prevention.
And Hood said he'll welcome his friend on the campaign trail, a fact that no doubt could help win valuable support from many Mississippians who remain enamored by Moore.