Dems targets another Senate seat in Deep South

Democrats are aggressively targeting another Senate seat in the Great South in Tuesday's second election, after winning a major victory in Alabama last year, while beleaguered Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) stumbles into the United States. Mississippi, a dark red.

Hyde-Smith has long been considered the undisputed favorite of his race against former Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy (D) in the second round, but the widespread reaction sparked by his commentary on "public hanging" forces the Republicans to complete a race that is beginning to tighten. .

The blunder makes the Democrats more optimistic about their prospects, while recognizing the enormous challenges they still face in a state that has not elected a Democratic senator since 1982.

Reversing the seat would give them a second major victory in the Senate in the Great South after Senator Doug Jones (D) caused a huge surprise at a special election in Alabama last year, narrowly beating the republican Roy MooreRoy Stewart MooreTrump will hold two rallies for Hyde-Smith one day before the second Mississippi Round Parties begin to play on the 2020 battlefield Victim culture and traditional justice oppose MORE who has faced several allegations of sexual misconduct that he has denied.

The outcome of the Mississippi race will likely depend on continued participation in a second round planned just days after the Thanksgiving holiday. Espy will need to see an increase in the number of black voters and reduce the Republicans' advantage to white voters if he wants to defeat the GOP's tight control over the state.

"We must reject the voters and repeat the facts on November 6. We think we got a very big effort from GOTV," said Joe Trippi, Democratic strategist for Espy, who also worked on Jones' campaign.

"I think the damage caused by itself has left some of its supporters less enthusiastic," he added, pointing out that a divided Republican party and a weak candidate could once again offer a perfect storm to Democrats , provided that they can muster enough voters.

"Are you losing a little momentum? [Thanksgiving]? "He said." I do not know that someone can be confident. "

The race became a central part of the campaign after Hyde-Smith joked that she was "in the front row" if a supporter invited him to a "public hanging", commenting on his imminent return to a state of disrepute. lynching.

Hyde-Smith, who was appointed in April to fill Sen's retired seat. Thad CochranWilliam (Thad) Thad Cochran Five About the Mississippi Senate Debate According to Espy, Espy said that Hyde-Smith's "public hanging" remark had given Mississippi a "black eye". (R), was also caught under fire after joking about the fact that it was harder for liberal students to vote and after a photo appeared in 2014 showing that she was wearing a confederate hat in a museum.

The series of incidents occurred at the end of a mid-term cycle marked by manifestations of racial animism, dog whistles and political polarization.

A poll shows that comments have an impact. Several news outlets have reported internal Republican polls showing a reduction in Hyde-Smith's lead, including one quoted by the New York Times that is only 5 points ahead.

Trippi said that he thought the margin between the two candidates was about 3 to 5 points.

In a debate this week, Hyde-Smith apologized to "anyone who was offended" by her comments of "public hanging", claiming that she did not want to "want" anything.

But Republicans take no chances, even with Hyde-Smith still favored to win, as they seek to maintain their 53-47 majority in the Senate.

President TrumpDonald John TrumpDems is preparing for the main battle. Trump and his family hold a Thanksgiving dinner during the Mar-a-Lago Trump-Roberts quarrel over Thanksgiving PLUS is about to hold a few rallies on the eve of the second round, traveling to a state where he earned 18 points in 2016 and whose approval rate is 59%, according to Morning Consult, well above of the national average.

Trump's visit is intended to increase voter turnout in a Republican majority state.

Hyde-Smith garnered 41.5% of the vote in a four-vote special election held Nov. 6, while Espy was just behind with 40.6%, forcing a second round after that. Neither of the two candidates resulted in 50% of the votes.

But she and the second Republican candidate, Chris McDaniel, got nearly 150,000 votes more than their Democratic rivals.

Hyde-Smith will now need voters from McDaniel to come to her on Tuesday, strategists announced.

"Hyde-Smith's problem is that McDaniel voters stay at home, which is possible. But that does not mean they'll vote for Espy, "said Marvin King, a professor of political science at the University of Mississippi.

"Espy has a deficit of about 150,000 votes. Even with some of Cindy Hyde-Smith's blunders, it's a lot to catch up with. Are these gaffes sufficient?

Strategists say that for Espy to get angry – and become the first black senator in the state since Reconstruction – he should win at least 90 percent of non-white voters, while garnering about 25 percent of white voters.

African Americans make up about 38 percent of Mississippi's population, and CNN exit polls show that black voters represented 33 percent of the electorate in the Nov. 6 election, with the overwhelming majority voting for Espy. In the meantime, Hyde-Smith won 60% of white voters.

To spark his enthusiasm, Espy gained some power over Sens's election campaign. Cory BookerCory Anthony BookerDems prepares for the main battle The Pentagon believes that the deployment of troops at the border will cost a lot to M 2020 Democrats dispute the use of troops by Trump on the Mexican border MORE (D-N.J.) And Kamala HarrisKamala Devi HarrisDems are preparing for the main battle The Pentagon believes that the deployment of border troops will be expensive for M 2020 Democrats dispute the use of troops by Trump on the Mexican border MORE (D-Calif.), Two black legislators and potential candidates for the presidency.

In his debate against Hyde-Smith, Mr. Espy also repeatedly pledged to place the "Mississippi first" and act as an independent senator, extolling his moderate ideas on issues ranging from guns to gunfire. immigration and praising Cochran.

For its part, Hyde-Smith has presented itself as a close ally of Trump.

Both parties also spend a lot in the race, with national groups spending more than $ 3.6 million.

The National Republican Senate Committee and the GOP Super PAC Senate Leadership Fund each spent more than a million dollars to raise Hyde-Smith, while the Senate Democrat majority PAC spent at least half a year. million attacks against Senator GOP.

The air war has also intensified.

The Espy campaign turned negative for the first time this week with an ad reiterating its "public hanging" remark and presenting it as too comfortable in Washington, D.C.

Meanwhile, Hyde-Smith and his allies described Espy as too liberal for Mississippi and highlighting his ties to the Clintons.

Hyde-Smith also launched the attack, putting Espy on the defensive when debating a report by Fox News that he would have raised $ 750,000 through a lobbying deal with a West African despot, although he was not the only one in the world. He told The Hill in 2011 that he received only half that amount.

Espy said that he had terminated the contract with former Ivorian President, Laurent Gbagbo, currently on trial for crimes against humanity, learning "how bad this guy was".

Republicans also seize on his earlier corruption allegations. In 1994, Espy left her position as Secretary of Agriculture after receiving gifts. During Tuesday's debate, Mr. Espy called the claims "unjust" and took note of the acquittal of all charges in 1998.

Nevertheless, Democrats hope that Hyde-Smith's comments will be enough to tip the race toward Espy, providing him with a similar coalition that brought Jones to the Alabama Senate last year.

"It turns out that when you compete and you have a strong candidate, you can win and be competitive," said Trippi.