CQ Politics on the Race

CQ Politics - In Mississippi, the Political Hits Just Keep on Coming

The list includes including former state Sen. Charlie Ross, John Rounsaville, former state rural development director for the USDA, financial services businessman David Landrum, former Rankin County GOP chairman Gregg Harper and four additional GOP candidates. The filing period ran from Jan. 2 through Jan. 11. Voters in the 3rd supported President Bush’s 2004 re-election campaign with 65 percent of the vote, more evidence of its strong Republican bent. CQ Politics rates this race as Safe Republican.

The influential anti-tax Club for Growth has already put its stamp on the race, endorsing Ross. The group said they decided to endorse Ross because he represents their “pro-growth” agenda and has defended property rights and supported tax cuts in the legislature. Ross made an unsuccessful run for lieutenant governor last year, which ended in a primary loss, but he spent more than $1.5 million on that race, a demonstration of his financial capabilities in Mississippi. The race also increased his statewide name recognition.

Rounsaville, 33, has his own strong ties to the state’s political establishment. He formerly served as policy adviser to Mississippi Republican Gov. Haley Barbour and prior to that as Pickering’s deputy House chief of staff. Rounsaville fits the mold of the type of candidate Mississippians have a history of electing to office. Pickering was 33 years old at the time of his first House election in 1996 and Republicans Lott and Thad Cochran were 31 and 34 respectively when they won election to the House, prior to their Senate service. Pickering, Lott and newly appointed Sen. Wicker all served as congressional aides prior to their House tenures. Reducing taxes, “winning the war on terror” and securing borders are just some of the conservative positions he’s promoted early on as issues of focus on his campaign Web site

Landrum got an early jump on the race by going up with television ads in December. His third commercial currently airing in the district discusses his faith and conservative values. “I don’t believe the current leadership in Congress represents Mississippi’s values.” Landrum states in the television spot. “I’m going to make sure that our values are not compromised or forgotten.” Past ads have cast him as the Washington outsider in the race, a businessman who can bring something different to Congress and an Army veteran who will work to strengthen the military.

Harper, a lawyer, was one of the first candidates to announce his intention to run following Pickering’s surprise retirement announcement in August 2008. Rankin served as head of the county Republicans in the largest GOP county within the district.