Mississippi's Democratic Party Mess

After spending time with Democratic candidates for office in recent months and covering electing night returns from Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree's gathering, my post-election analysis appeared in today's issue of the Jackson Free Press, Mississippi's only alternative news weekly.

Here's a taste of it: 

Once again, election night last week revealed a grim reality for Mississippi Democrats and the Mississippi Democratic Party.
Just minutes after polls closed statewide, the Associated Press began delivering dismal news for Democrats, calling the races of state auditor, lieutenant governor and secretary of state for Republicans. In these races, the GOP didn't even have token Democratic opposition. While incumbency often increases a candidate's chances for reelection--the case for secretary of state and state auditor--the Mississippi Democratic Party failed to field a candidate for the open seat of lieutenant governor.

In Hattiesburg, the atmosphere for the city's mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Johnny DuPree made for an evening of defiance until the inevitable loomed.

Click here to read the rest of the story.