Salter on Leaders

ClarionLedger.com - Sid Salter Blog - 3rd District: Landrum, Ross likely to meet in the 2nd primary - The 3rd District is hard to handicap. Despite David Landrum's implosion on the issue of his voting record, he's run a well-financed, textbook campaign otherwise. He was virtually uncontested on TV for six weeks. His supporters are loyal. And the secret weapon?

Landrum has the friendship of Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant, who would like to see Landrum or any other Republican put a knot on the head of his old 2007 GOP primary opponent Charlie Ross. Ross hit Bryant hard during that bruising primary and there are hard feelings.

Ross has also run a good campaign. Ross has superior qualifications and has softened his stodgy image somewhat. His experience and his legislative record are strong and he's 2nd in the campaign finance parade behind Landrum.

Gregg Harper is relying on a big Rankin County ground game, but has been weak on TV. John Rounsaville has taken the fight to Landrum, but is unlikely to be able to move the needle enough to knock Landrum out of a runoff spot.

So I think you'll see a Ross-Landrum second primary. Then, it gets down to how much fence mending Ross can do with Harper and Rounsaville supporters and just how badly Phil Bryant wants to help Landrum put that knot on Ross's head.

Landrum's campaign finances are limited only by his own considerable checkbook. Ross will have to depend on contributions.

On the Democratic side, I think Pickens alderman Joel Gill will get the nomination. He's campaigned hard, which is more than you can say for his primary opponent.