WASHINGTON, D.C.–The campaign for Senate-turned war between incumbent U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran and state Sen. Chris McDaniel, both Republicans, has had some new twists and turns over the past few days. While it has always been bitter on Twitter, it’s been TV and radio appearances that have fueled the fracas this time around.
The Miss. Tea Party has officially called for the resignation of Republican Party of Miss. Chair Joe Nosef after he made comments on the Paul Gallo Show last week that he believed a victory for McDaniel in the primary would mean a loss for Republicans.
Nosef, as chair of the party, is supposed to remain neutral.
Nosef, in this statement from Monday, said he has remained neutral:
Anyone who has paid close attention to our US senate primary knows that I’ve not only stayed neutral with regard to the candidates but also worked relentlessly against efforts to divide our party. I continue to receive encouragement in this effort to promote unity from our GOP elected officials, voters across the state, members of both campaigns, as well as very active, long-term tea party members. I also appreciate the good people across our state who make up the lifeblood of the tea party and have enjoyed working with them for years. I am grateful for their support. I have a great working relationship with them in all corners of our state and look forward to working together in this year’s campaigns and into the future.
McDaniel has been taking heat for his behavior in the mid 2000s on a Hattiesburg radio show that he hosted.
Meanwhile, in a rare TV interview, Cochran told WCBI in Columbus Monday that he is not surprised the Tea Party is backing McDaniel, which may come as a surprise to some after earlier statements from Cochran where he admitted he did not know what the Tea Party was.
“I haven’t been doing any bashing,” he told the station at an event in Starkville. “I’ve been telling the truth about the situation that we face in this campaign. We’re confronted with an opponent of mine who has no experience in public office at this level. He is simply criticizing, and has some people who are supporting him doing the same thing.”
The primary is in June. On the Democrat side are Bill Marcy and Travis Childers.
