Thad Cochran’s win against, Chris McDaniel continues to be in the news – some two weeks now and going.
Last week, an entity calling itself “True The Vote” filed a lawsuit challenging the outcome of the race.
This is a chapter in Mississippi politics that needs to end. First, McDaniel refused to concede June 24 to Cochran and even by the end of this week, reporters continued to ask if he was going to support Cochran. McDaniel would not answer. Next, his supporters and campaign continued to state they believe voting irregularities took place in various parts of the state and that they are researching their other options. In fact, just a few days ago, three McDaniel operatives were in town of Cleveland trying to obtain information from the Circuit Clerk’s office … that they were not entitled to.
McDaniel appeared out of nowhere and came extremely close to beating Cochran in the primary and runoff elections. That means roughly 180,000 Mississippians voted for McDaniel. That in itself is amazing. However, all of this is beginning to harm McDaniel in the eyes of his supporters and others by not accepting the numbers and refusing to move on in a dignified way. This in turn is casting a shadow over his credibility which could hurt him in a future statewide.
Politics is a nasty business and everyone knows this. Losing a political race is not easy. Losing an extremely close race is awful. But, for the candidate who did not win, it is always best to move on once the people have spoken.
McDaniel’s campaign was well organized, well funded, and he was an excellent campaigner. Many felt he represented the Republican Party of Ronald Reagan who most Republicans consider to be the icon of the Party.
A large portion of Mississippi Republicans feel the Party has moved too close to the center and that “conservative values” are being blurred. Therefore, McDaniel’s message struck lightening with voters.
Cochran needs the support that McDaniel can deliver as Cochran now faces Democrat, Travis Childers in the upcoming November general election. McDaniel should endorse Cochran and ask his voters to help Cochran in November.
That is the appropriate step to take.
Scott Coopwood, a seventh generation Deltan, lives in Cleveland, Mississippi, with his wife Cindy and their three children. Scott is the publisher and owner of Delta Magazine, one of the South’s leading lifestyle publications, the Delta Business Journal, the first business publication in the Mississippi Delta; and Cleveland’s weekly newspaper, The Cleveland Current . Scott’s company also publishes two weekly e-newsletters. Coopwood publishing concerns now reach 250,000 people. Scott is also a 1984 graduate of the University of Mississippi. He can be reached at scott@coopwood.net
McDaniel Needs to Recognize Cochran’s Win
