Nash–Runoff Predictions

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We’ll see today if the rule of thumb holds for election predictions — the candidate who raises or spends the most is usually the winner. In the case of the top three Republican runoffs on the ballot today, that would mean victories for Charles Barbour ($110,532 to $81,030 for Longwitz), Knox Ross ($200,149 to $106,218 for Harkins), and Lynn Fitch ($535,726 to $344,073 for Yancey). In the case of the Longwitz, Harkins and Yancey, they each have an advantage that might overcome the money: Longwitz has geography, Harkins has an extensive network of grassroots contacts in Rankin County, and Yancey has a network of church and conservative activist contacts across the state. Very hard to call these.

#Jere #Nash #Mississippi #politics #campaigns #elections #runoff #Charles #Barbour #Will #Longwitz #Knox #Ross #Josh #Harkins #Lynn #Fitch #Lee #Yancey #Treasurer #SD25 #SD20 #Republicans #finance #grassroots

Shots fired in treasurer’s race

- WLOX-TV and www.WLOX.com – The News for South Mississippi: www.wlox.com/story/15311405/shots-fired-inttreasur…-race

GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -
One day before run off elections, politics dominated the day at a Harrison County Republican Women’s event at the Southern Club in Gulfport.

Several candidates were on hand making last minute overtures before Tuesday’s run-offs. The marquee match up is the race for State Treasurer.

Republicans Lee Yancey and Lynn Fitch both took the opportunity to meet with voters in South Mississippi and talk about their qualifications.

"I’m the most conservative person in the race," Lee Yancey told the crowd. "I’ve been involved in Republican politics my whole life. With my four years in the Senate, I know the legislative process, I know all the Legislators, I know how a bill becomes law. I know how to get things done."

Then it was Lynn Fitch’s turn.

"I ran an agency for Governor Barbour, the State Personnel Board, which is the human resources agency for about 32,000 state employees," Fitch said. "I’ve been a bond lawyer. I’ve represented the Treasurers office, Bond Commission, and all other financial agencies in state government."

Yancey, a state Senator from Rankin County has gone on the offensive in this race.

"I’ve raised the question: After the legislature put a freeze on all salaries, why did Lynn Fitch authorize more than a million dollars in raises? She says I’m going negative and dirty. I’m simply asking a question about her record," Yancey said.

Fitch, who lives in Madison County, deflected that criticism.

"It’s unfortunate my opponent has gone negative. I won’t go there," Fitch said. "Those are lies and distortions. I’m not going to be drawn into that. I’ve got so many positive things to talk about like what we can do when I’m the state’s Chief Financial Officer."

The winner of Tuesday’s run off meets Ocean Springs Mayor and Democrat Connie Moran in the general election.

#Mississippi #Treasurer #Lynn #Fitch #Lee #Yancey #politics #Republicans #Connie #Moran #Harrison #County #runoff #elections #campaigns

Senators Fillingane and Hudson endorse Lynn Fitch for Treasurer

Fitch receives two local endorsements – WDAM – Channel 7 – Mississippi News, Hattiesburg, Laurel: www.wdam.com/story/15311339/fitch-receives-two-end…ments

HATTIESBURG,MS (WDAM)- On the eve of the runoff elections Lynn Fitch received a stamp of approval from two Pine Belt senators.

Senators Joey Fillingane and Billy Hudson were at the Chancery Court Building in downtown Hattiesburg to support Fitch, a candidate for State Treasurer.

Both Hudson and Fillingane say Fitch has solid conservative fiscal ideas, and has proven in her present and past jobs to be the best choice for State Treasurer.

"As a bond attorney she is by far the most qualified person. We haven’t heard a lot about qualifications in this race. I think that is shame, because if qualifications are what we decide to vote for it would be a slam dunk for my friend," said Fillingane.

"I am very proud to endorse this lady. I am going to vote for her. I ask my friends and family to come out and vote for her tomorrow. We need a big turn out. We believe and we expect that she is going to be elected tomorrow night," said Hudson.

#Mississippi #politics #State #Senate #Senator #Joey #Fillingane #Senator #Billy #Hudson #Lynn #Fitch #Lee #Yancey #Treasurer #Hattiesburg #Pine #Belt #campaigns #elections #runoff

Nash–Painting with a broad brush

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We Mississippi Democrats fully recognize that Mississippi Republicans love nothing more than throwing the liberal label at us. When it comes to a Mississippi Republican describing a Democrat, they can’t do it without inserting liberal in front of our party choice. In the campaign world, it’s calling painting with a broad brush. What we are witnessing in the party primaries this year is a more recent phenomenon — Republican candidates in a GOP primary accusing their Republican opponents of being liberal (or one of the many iterations: Obama supporter, closet Democrat, voted to raise taxes). Lee Yancey did it against Lynn Fitch. Charles Barbour has done it against Will Longwitz. And Josh Harkins has done it against Knox Ross. I’m a little dubious about the tactic; my sense is that GOP primary voters naturally assume anyone running as a Republican is, by default, conservative. If that’s the case, then the tactic will backfire. But I’ll admit I know virtually nothing about what it takes for a candidate to win a GOP primary. That is a foreign battleground for me, so Tuesday could prove me wrong. We’ll see.

#Mississippi #politics #Josh #Harkins #Knox #Ross #SD20 #Will #Longwitz #Charles #Barbour #SD25 #Lynn #Fitch #Lee #Yancey #Treasurer #elections #runoff #campaigns #Republicans

Senator Trent Lott endorses Yancey for Treasurer

www.icontact-archive.com/yiOThMH64xnKDt9we6bk-QLzf…6?w=1: www.icontact-archive.com/yiOThMH64xnKDt9we6bk-QLzf…6?w=1

Former Mississippi U.S. Senator Trent Lott today endorsed Senator Lee Yancey for Mississippi Treasurer. The runoff election for State Treasurer is Tuesday.
“Experience, leadership, accountability, and integrity are what is needed in the Mississippi Treasurers’ office. Lee Yancey is the person for the job,” said Lott in a written statement.
“I could not be more proud to receive this endorsement at this important moment in the campaign,” said Yancey. “All Mississippi Republicans respect and admire Trent Lott. It is an honor and privilege to have him behind me in this campaign.”

Senator Lee Yancey represents parts of Rankin and Madison counties in the Senate. Yancey is an investment advisor representative with Woodridge Capital Portfolio Management. In 2006, Lee was selected by Pro-Life Mississippi as the recipient of their Pro-Lifer of the Year Award for his work with the Mississippi legislature.

FULL STATEMENT BY SENATOR TRENT LOTT:

President Ronald Reagan once wrote on a photograph for my mother, "the fruit never falls far from the tree". Lee Yancey’s father, Rex, was the pastor of my home church in Pascagoula.

I know how Lee Yancey’s was raised and the kind of man he has become.
As a state legislator, he has learned how state government works, and the importance of the Treasurer’s office.

Experience, leadership, accountability, and integrity are what is needed in the Mississippi Treasurers’ office. Lee Yancey is the person for the job.

#Mississippi #Lee #Yancey #Trent #Lott #Treasurer #Lynn #Fitch #politics #campaigns #elections #runoff #Republicans

Treasurer hopefuls banking on experience

| The Clarion-Ledger | www.clarionledger.com: www.clarionledger.com/article/20110819/NEWS/108190…ome|s

With less than a week before Tuesday’s primary runoff, Republican state treasurer candidates Lynn Fitch and Lee Yancey are both touting experience on the campaign trail.

About 11,000 votes separated the GOP hopefuls on Aug. 2, with Fitch leading a three-way race with 38 percent of the vote.

Mississippi elections require a candidate to secure 50 percent plus one vote to avoid a runoff.

The Republican nominee will face Ocean Springs Mayor Connie Moran in the Nov. 8 general election. A Reform Party candidate also wants to be on the ballot.

Earlier this week, Fitch, 49, of Madison, and Yancey, 43, of Brandon, met potential voters along the Gulf Coast. The candidates campaigned Thursday in north Mississippi.

#Mississippi #Lynn #Fitch #Lee #Yancey #politics #treasurer #campaigns #elections #runoff #Republican

Harrison’s rundown of the Treasurer Runoff

Either Lynn Fitch or Lee Yancey was expecting to be campaigning in the August heat for the post of state treasurer – just not both of them.

The conventional wisdom was that Yancey or Fitch would place second to top fundraiser Lucien Smith, a Jackson attorney and former budget adviser to Gov. Haley Barbour, in the Aug. 2 Republican primary and force a runoff.

As it turned out, Fitch led the ticket on Aug. 2 with about 38 percent of the vote, followed by Yancey with 34 percent. The two are battling to win the nomination in the Aug. 23 runoff and face Ocean Springs Mayor Connie Moran, the Democratic nominee, in the Nov. 8 general election.

The post of treasurer is open because Republican incumbent Tate Reeves is running for lieutenant governor.

"I am making a lot of progress," said Yancey, a first-term state senator representing portions of Rankin and Madison counties. "… I am trying to get my voters back out, trying to raise money and trying to get back on television."

Both Fitch and Yancey recently aired new television ads trying to generate support for the runoff.

Traditionally, there is a substantial drop-off in voter participation in a runoff. Both have built-in advantages they hope will help them get their voters out. There is a runoff in Yancey’s Senate district – so that could draw more likely Yancey voters to the polls.

But there also are several local runoff elections in Fitch’s home county of Madison where she did well on Aug 2.

"The reception has been great for us," said Fitch, who is the executive director of the state Personnel Board. "… We are going to stay focused on issues, qualification and on experience."

Fitch previously served as the deputy director of the Department of Employment Security and was in private practice as a bond attorney.

"I have a very positive message to bring to voters," said Fitch. "I am uniquely qualified. There is no candidate who matches my skill set."

The treasurer is, in part, a money manager for the state. Both Fitch and Yancey say they are fiscal conservatives who will work to hold down the state’s debt.

NEMS360.com – Candidates battling in treasurer’s runoff: nems360.com/bookmark/15084970/article-Candidates battling in treasurer’s runoff#.TkfKvkvT6YE.facebook

#Mississippi #Treasurer #Lynn #Fitch #Lee #Yancey #politics #spending #campaigns #elections #runoff #Bobby #Harrison #NEMS360

MIM Mapping the Treasurer’s Runoff

Fitch or Yancey? pan id=”inliner-wp-start-0″ style=”display:inline” >majorityinms.com/2011/08/09/mapping-the-treasurerâ…unoff#Lynn #Fitch #Lee #Yancey #Treasurer #Mississippi #Politics