Judicial Races Turn Ugly With Push Polls
According to the Clarion-Ledger, Attorney General Jim Hood is investigating several “push polls,” political smears that masquerade as telephone opinion polls, targeting Mississippi Supreme Court candidates. Third-party organizations have conducted push polls on Justice Chuck Easley, Justice Oliver Diaz and Crystal Springs laywer Jim Kitchens, who is vying for Chief Justice Jim Smith’s seat.
Posted by Ward Schaefer at 02:00 PM on 09/23/08. Discuss (3)
Supreme Court Rules Sample Ballot is Illegal
The Mississippi Supreme Court ruled against Gov. Haley Barbour and Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann today in their appeal concerning the contested sample November ballot. Justice Jess Dickinsons majority opinion (PDF, 496 KB) stated that the sample ballot, which listed the U.S. Senate race between Roger Wicker and Ronnie Musgrove near the bottom, is illegal.
The Mississippi Supreme Court ruled against Gov. Haley Barbour and Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann today in their appeal concerning the contested sample November ballot. Justice Jess Dickinsons majority opinion (PDF, 496 KB) stated that the sample ballot, which listed the U.S. Senate race between Roger Wicker and Ronnie Musgrove near the bottom, is illegal.
“With respect to placing on the ballot a United States Senatorial raceҗregardless of whether or not the race is a special electionthe statute’s wordsדThe titles for the various offices shall be listed in the following order"can have but one meaning,” Dickinson wrote.
In deference to the separation of powers, the Court stopped short of actually ordering the governor and secretary of state to issue a revised ballot with the Senate race listed alongside other national elections, but Barbour and Hosemann are expected to comply with the Courtגs interpretation.
LetӒs all take a deep breath this afternoon and see if everyone does the right thing, Sam Begley, attorney for plaintiff Trudy Berger, said, adding that Barbour and Hosemann are both members of the Mississippi Bar.
ԓI have every confidence that they will follow the letter and spirit of the Supreme Courts ruling,Ҕ he said.
Following the decision, Barbour issued a one-line statement, which read: “The Supreme Court has spoken; so be it.”
Posted by Ward Schaefer at 05:26 PM on 09/18/08. Discuss (3)
AP: Michigan Rep. asks Justice Dept. to Investigate Mississippi Ballot
The Associated Press is reporting that Rep. John Conyers, the Democratic chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, spoke out against Barbour’s sample ballot today. He repeated the charge that a ballot with the Wicker-Musgrove Senate race near the bottom will disenfranchise voters.
Conyers called the sample ballot “a blatant violation” of the Voting Rights Act. Ironically, Barbour has made the same claim about the alternate ballot that Trudy Berger and Tomie Green have proposed, because it would constitute a change in voting procedure from the past practice of placing special elections at the end.
Posted by Ward Schaefer at 04:33 PM on 09/16/08. Discuss (2)
Wicker-Musgrove Closer Than 1 Month Ago
Daily Kos posted new poll numbers on the Wicker-Musgrove race yesterday, and they show a much closer race than the 52-43 lead Rasmussen gave McCain back in August.
Wicker (R) 48 (45)
Musgrove (D) 43 (44)
The numbers should be heartening to Musgroves supporters, but heҒs also not dominating some key demographics. Musgrove pulled 75% of black respondents, but 18% declared themselves undecided. He also only got 50% of the Delta/Jackson region, which is supposed to be his stronghold.
It will be interesting to see how the ballot controversy affects this race. I could see Musgrove getting a financial boost from all the national attention.
Posted by Ward Schaefer at 03:49 PM on 09/12/08. Discuss (4)
Page 1 of 1 pages
