TEXAS GOVERNOR’S RACE GETS KINKY

According to the latest SurveyUSA poll, Monday, Rick Perry is down to 35% of voters supporting his re-election as Governor. The danger zone has officially been reached. Kinky Friedman, the left-wing country and western entertainer all the rage with Texas liberals is bringing up the rear with 21 % which creates a three way tie for second place with Democrat Chris Bell and Independent Republican Carole Keeton Strayhorn. The Governor’s continued weakness has caused me to re-assess this race . Hiram’s Prediction: Perry Re-election not favored.

MISSISSIPPI DEMOCRAT SENATE RUN-OFF

With 84% of the precincts reporting, Mississippi democrats have selected a sacraficial lamb to be slaughtered by Trent Lott in the fall election. The winner is Larouche democrat Erik Fleming, a black, pro-life State Senator. Any bets on how bad this idiot will lose by? HIRAM’S PREDICTION: 85% LOTT.

GOP SENATE FAILS TO PROTECT FLAG

In another sterling example of ineptitude, the Republican controlled U.S. Senate failed to advance a constitutional amendment banning flag desecration by one vote. Yes, one lousy vote. If they can’t protect sacred symbols of Americana from being defiled by left-wing radicals, can they protect us from terrorists? It makes you wonder.

BAUER DEFEATS CAMPBELL IN SQUEAKER

With 94% of precincts reporting, Incumbent South Carolina Lt. Governor Andre Bauer fended off an aggressive challenge from the son of former South Carolina Governor Carroll Campbell with 51% 77, 396 votes to Campbell’s 49% 73, 883 votes. This ends the titanic contest for second fiddle and a launch to Mike Campbell’s political career. Millionaire developer Thomas Ravenel also snagged the GOP nomination for State Treasurer against the only remaining White Democrat elected statewide in South Carolina, octogenarian Grady Patterson. The 2010 contest for GOP nomination for Governor has just begun in earnest. I would venture to add that the key to the 2008 Presidential nomination lies embedded in the minds of the voters who decided this contest. Given the gateway nature of the South Carolina GOP Presidential primary, 2008 Presidential aspirants need to poll the voters in the run-off to understand why they voted as they did. They may find a silver bullet.

BAUER-CAMPBELL BRAWL IN SOUTH CAROLINA

The Andre Bauer-Mike Campbell smackdown in South Carolina comes to a conclusion tonight as the GOP runoff results trickle in. The Lieutenent Governor, Andre Bauer has been plagued by a series of erratic missteps as he has been routinely stopped for speeding, and crashing a private plane in the weeks up to the primary. These incidents, combined with a lackluster record and a history of wingnutterry worse than the Governor’s led to an impression in the minds of voters that Bauer was a lightweight. The son of former Governor Carroll Campbell, Mike Campbell has been able to capitalize on his late father’s sterling reputation as the godfather of the S.C. GOP to make substantial inroads in this race leading to an endorsement by former President Bush of his candidacy early on. His aggressive approach and willingness to reach out to various and sundry leading GOP lights lead to a stunning double digit victory in the primary over Bauer. Therein lies the rub. SC voters hate front runners and tend to choose the runner up. As of 8:37 eastern time the Lt. Governor is leading 45, 957 50.58% to Campbell’s 44, 915 49.42 %. Stay tuned.

SOUTHERN POLITICAL ROUND-UP 2, Texas, Florida, Arkansas

Texas-The lone star state presents us with a fascinating race for Governor this year, complete with colorful characters and lots of backstabbing, intrigue, and bluster. Incumbent Republican Governor Rick Perry is carrying the standard for BUSH, Inc. He is a classic Chamber of Commerce Pol who switched parties after his main rival State Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn but accuses her of being less Republican than he is. Carole Strayhorn raised over $8 million in the run up to the Republican primary in what looked to be a primary challenge to the Governor but instead turned into an Independent bid that has blown the race wide open. Perry is now polling below 40% and left wing Independent Candidate Kinky Friedman has raised about $ 2 million now and severely damaged the prospects of democratic nominee Chris Bell, a former one term Houston Congressman. Bell hasn’t even raised $1 million although the latest poll numbers have him running second to Governor Perry. I wouldn’t count on that to continue given Mrs. Strayhorn’s considerable cash on hand. This is a two-person race between Carole and Rick. HIRAM’S RATING: PERRY FAVORED FOR RE-ELECTION.FLORIDA-This race is an open seat left by the President’s brother, Governor Jeb Bush. The GOP has been ascendant in Florida for some time now but this race is showing signs that the eventual democrat nominee will be competitive whoever that is with $6.2 mil raised. In the meantime, Attorney General Charlie Crist is leading State CFO Gallagher by large margins in polls (52/21) and fundraising ($9.7 mil) in the run up to the September primary. Crist is likely to be the GOP nominee despite the rumors about his sexuality. HIRAM’S RATING: REPUBLICAN LEANING.

ARKANSAS-Democrat nominee Attorney General Mike Beebe leads GOP nominee Asa Hutchinson by 11 points in the last Rasmussen survey. Beebe also leads in money raised $2.8 to $2.3 million. It will be difficult for some voters to distinguish between Asa Hutchinson and his brother Tim Hutchinson, the former U.S. Senator, who crusaded for impeachment of Bill Clinton while simultaneously conducting an affair that ended his 29-year marriage and subsequently, his political career. The popular Attorney General is in the catbird seat for the General Election. HIRAM’S RATING: DEMOCRAT FAVORED.

SOUTHERN POLITICAL ROUND-UP

SOUTH CAROLINA- Republican Governor Mark Sanford is facing a remarkably spirited challenge from Democrat State Senator Tommy Moore. Sanford, a former Congressman who defeated Democrat Governor Jim Hodges in 2002 couldn’t pass a Dale Carnegie course on how to win friends and influence people. He has spent four years at odds with the GOP legislature on everything making enemies and losing friends in the process. Sanford has a positive approval rating but is showing some vulnerability in some key areas among White voters with 37% disapproving and 30% of Republicans disapproving of his performance. That coupled with South Carolina’s high jobless rate and slow economic growth; indicate weakness that can be exploited. With nearly $4.9 million on hand in his coffers verses 400k for his challenger, the Governor is still in good shape. Moore has raised $1.3 million so far and needs to show more fundraising strength to get himself over the hump of Sanford’s incumbency. HIRAM’S RATING: SANFORD RE-ELECTION FAVORED.

GEORGIA-Republican Governor Sonny Perdue, a moderate pro-business conservative, is facing a strong re-election challenge from two ambitious Democrats: Lt. Gov Mark Taylor and Sec of State Cathy Cox. Together, Cox and Taylor are closing in on $8 million raised with the Governor also having $8.2 in reserve for the General Election. The Governor’s strong education record, inclusiveness, and competence speak well of him. The slugfest in the democrat primary will leave the winner bruised and battered and if it’s Taylor also facing the unpleasant prospect of his son’s trial on drunk driving and vehicular manslaughter charges. If it’s Cox, facing her multiple positions on gay marriage. HIRAM’S RATING: PERDUE RE-ELECTION FAVORED.

ALABAMA-The big enchilada has two fascinating races. Lt. Governor Baxley is vacating office to run for Governor leaving a former Governor, Jim Folsom as the democrat nominee to face whoever emerges from the brutal GOP primary for the seat. Washington lobbyist Luther Strange is running against legendary political scion George Wallace, Jr., a former state Treasurer and Public Service Commissioner. The conflict of interest inherent with Luther Strange’s law firm make a public integrity investigation in his future likely if he wins. Wallace, running on a platform of legislative ethics and lobbying reform has the support of his other rivals in the primary and his name recognition. Hiram predicts a win for Wallace in the Primary. My perceptions of the general election are yet unformed until I see a campaign filing from Folsom. The Gubernatorial primaries were headline grabbers this year, which saw the highest turnout in recent memory. Democratic Lt. Governor Lucy Baxley snagged the nomination over former Governor Siegleman currently on trial in a high profile public integrity probe. Ms. Lucy isn’t raising the money she needs to in this race. She’s raised less than $2 million so far. The Governor had his own primary challenge from right-wing lunatic Judge Roy Moore of the Ten Commandments fame. He has already spent more than $6 million with $2.5 million in reserve. Governor Riley swept his challenger aside convincingly and consolidated his GOP base of support. He should have no problem dispatching the Lt. Governor because he has shown a high degree of compassion and competence while in office. HIRAM’S RATING: RILEY RE-ELECTION FAVORED.

LOTT: GREED IS GOOD

Remember that line spoken by Michael Douglas in Wall Street? Trent Lott must have internalized it because today he voted against raising the minimum wage for the ninth time since 1997. In the aftermath of the most devastating natural disaster in recent Mississippi history, he has denied the most vulnerable workers a reprieve from poverty while using the power of his office and a private lawsuit to put pressure on the Insurance Company that is refusing to settle a claim to re-build his historic estate in Pascagoula.But then, his record is replete with this kind of flabbergasting tone-deafness. Senator Lott has failed the people of Mississippi repeatedly with his movement conservative ideological zeal that seeks to reward the least deserving with largess and the least of these with nothing, unless misery can be construed as something worthwhile. He has voted for elimination of the death tax, which will allow the richest of the rich to escape taxation on billions of dollars in unearned wealth. In this time of need, when the people are still reeling from Katrina’s wrath, it is incomprehensible to champion tax cuts for the wealthiest among us while voting to increase your own congressional salary in the same period by $30,000. The hypocrisy is astounding and unchristian.

MAYOR MELTON: IDIOTIC CLOWN

Switching out Harvey Johnson for Frank Melton has been an unmitigated disaster. Melton becomes more delusional, clownish, and psychotic by the day. He replaced every city department head, promised the people the moon and delivered on nothing. Now he believes he has the power to call out the national guard to place Jackson under martial law. His law enforcement fantasy routine is wearing really thin. I am surprised that the District Attorney hasn’t had him arrested for the wholesale violation of the rights of people whose homes he’s invaded. As this idiotic clown stumbles through his term it is becoming increasingly apparent that he is on borrowed time and that Jackson will soon have another Mayor.

SurveyUSA Poll: 30% of Mississippi Conservatives disapprove of Barbour

Amy Tuck has an opening with the emergence of 30% of Conservatives disapproving of the Governor’s performance. She has to convince those dissidents that she is a more common-sense, capable alternative. I believe she can. She has established herself as a no-nonsense conservative with her support of tort-reform and pro-business economic policies that hold the line on Mississippi business taxes and government spending. She recognizes the necessity of some government spending as a tool to spur and enhance economic growth. She also recognizes the pain working families face when they are saddled with the highest grocery tax bill in the nation in the aftermath of the worst natural disaster in state history. If ever a politician has earned the moniker, compassionate conservative, she has. The compassionless corporate whore in the Governor’s mansion should be wary, very wary of Amy’s growing profile because she can beat him.