Better MS Report

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal: Congressman-elect Alan Nunnelee of Tupelo said Friday he will allow Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant to replace him next week when House and Senate leaders meet to develop a budget proposal for the 2011 legislative session. Nunnelee, as chair of the state Senate Appropriations Committee, was scheduled to be in Jackson [...]

The Commercial Dispatch: As the midterm election approaches, Americans — north Mississippians among them — remain mired in recession and disgusted with Washington. Now as two years ago, voter ire has mounted against the party that happens to be in power. Republicans stand to regain control of the House of Representatives, and possibly even the [...]

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal: The mostly negative campaign we have endured in the 1st Congressional District since the summer obscures the fact that the two major party candidates, Democratic incumbent Congressman Travis Childers of Booneville and Republican state Sen. Alan Nunnelee of Tupelo, are both good and honorable men with long records of public [...]

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal: Expect a strong turnout at the polls Tuesday after an early rush on absentee voting sweeps across the region. In county after county, circuit clerks have reported unusually large numbers of absentee ballots for a midterm election. Typically, high absentee voting means a high election-day turnout. “It’s crazy,” said DeSoto [...]

The Clarion-Ledger: First District Rep. Travis Childers recently rolled out a campaign commercial in northern Mississippi touting all the times he voted against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Democratic strategist Jere Nash called that a critical turning point in a race he previously thought would be a certain victory for Childers. Republican state Sen. Alan Nunnelee [...]

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal: First District Democratic congressional incumbent Travis Childers says he would prefer a “more moderate” Democratic alternative to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, but he won’t go so far as to say he wouldn’t vote for her. Conversely, his Republican opponent Alan Nunnelee has made Pelosi’s ouster his campaign cry. [...]

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal: From his perch behind the counter of Tupelo Hardware Co., graying, bearded James Williams of Saltillo will tell you that he feels trapped in the low-income bracket of an backsliding economy. “You just can’t afford to buy the things you used to be able to buy,” Williams said. “Wages can’t [...]

From The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal: In politics, it’s an all-out sprint to the finish line. Cash is important, and so are your friends. With the Nov. 2 general election 17 days away, incumbent U.S. Rep. Travis Childers, a Democrat, still leads in the money race – with money raised, spent and cash on hand. [...]

From Mississippi Public Broadcasting: Textbook Republican strategy for this mid-term election has been to cast Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as the bad guy, linking congressional Democratic candidates to her. That message is clearly resonating with voters. Ronnie Williams, owner of a shop that sells and repairs lawn equipment in Oxford, voted for Senator John [...]

From The Associated Press: North Mississippi congressional candidates exchanged sharp words at a debate Tuesday night about how loyal each would be to his party’s leadership on Capitol Hill. U.S. Rep. Travis Childers, a Democrat, said he’s been an independent voice since being elected just over two years ago and has tried to work across [...]