The digital age meets politicking at Mississippi's Neshoba County Fair

PHILADELPHIA, Miss.—Folks leaning up against trees talking politics at the Neshoba County Fair in recent days may seem to have gone back in time with the unique experience, but the emergence of so-called new media helped bring it to more people.

Called the Mississippi’s giant house party, the Magnolia State staple for politics and good times had roots dating to the late 1890s. Many decades ago, Gov. Ross Barnett would sing country songs with lyrics related to his political platform, but little if any video footage of it exists.

While the fair has preserved a part of rural culture—from mule races to political speeches under a tin-roof pavilion—it seems to have easily embraced another world, the digital age.

During political speaking at the fair on Wednesday and Thursday, plenty of fairgoers tweeted their political analysis and play by play speakers and gossip. Whether reporting on Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller telling a dog joke or filming candidate footage for YouTube, this year’s fair brought the old world of red dirt and tin roof together with live tweets and future Internet footage.

Marty Wiseman, director of the Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University, said various electronic media used by a number of fair attendees will preserve moments captured for a long time, for better or worse.

Politicians speaking at the fair want moments captured on video of them delivering a strong line during a speech, but also know the potential recording mistakes make public appearance more of an increased liability at the fair.

“If you get up there and get the heck booed out of you, it hurts,” Wiseman said.

However, few speeches this year had many noticeable jeers. One upside to technology allowing video to be more easily recorded and uploaded to the Internet is showing a large group of supporters cheering during a speech.

“If you can get it,” Wiseman said, “it can go viral.”

More than ever, this year’s Neshoba County Fair ushered in politicians embracing the world of Twitter, Facebook and viral videos. As candidates spoke and walked throughout the fairgrounds, at times someone holding a video camera followed.

While many political campaigns want to capture images and video reinforcing positive messages of candidates, the world of “YouTube moments” has liabilities too. Political campaigns in other states have been sunk by “YouTube moments,” such as when former Virginia Gov. George Allen was recorded calling an Indian person a racial slur.

Closer to home, a recording posted on YouTube of Republican candidate Angela McGlowan speaking to a radio host about gun registration helped sink her congressional aspirations this year. And don't let the Republicans think they've got the monopoly on silly gaffes, can anyone say "Joe Biden"? Here's another one out there for you Arlen Specter fans:


Morgan Baldwin, general consultant for Alan Nunnelee, Republican candidate for the 1st Congressional District, said the campaign recorded Nunnelee’s speech to post online.

“A lot of people aren’t able to be there and see what’s going on,” Baldwin said. “The ability to go online and see Senator Nunnelee talk about what’s important to the people of north Mississippi is key.”

Along with online video footage, Nunnelee updated his Facebook status and tweeted throughout his time at the fair.

When asked about the possibility of getting caught on video at the fair, state insurance commissioner Mike Chaney didn’t sound too worried, especially since his office already uses YouTube to help inform the public.
“It’s a part of it all now,” Chaney said.

For Brandon Presley, Northern District Public Service Commissioner who made a brief appearance at the fair, allowing more people to participate in politics only strengthens involvement in the process.

“People can post their own stuff,” said Presley. “I think it’s wonderful for democracy.”


P.S. For this of you who didn't catch the story I wrote for the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal that appeared in Thursday's paper, check it out here.