MISS Independent?

Special elections are always over-analyzed, and the conclusions are often over-reaching. But the importance of today's MS-01 special election cannot be minimized. The GOP has no excuses for losing this reliably GOP CD.

-- Sure, as the NRCC says, they're called "special" elections for a reason, and there are some "special" circumstances in MS-01. First is geography. There aren't many places outside of this CD where the GOP candidate has problems with the rural vote and has a firm grasp on the suburban vote. And some point to the non-partisan ballot and claim it aids Travis Childers (D), who often sounds like a GOPer.

-- But make no mistake, the results of this election will be a referendum on the GOP. The party's made sure of that. With all of the state's GOP leaders, and Mr. establishment himself, VP Cheney, parachuting into the CD in the runup to the vote, what other conclusion is there to make?

-- Considering the reactions of GOPers after the previous two losses, a Greg Davis (R) defeat would be devastating. Even in this reddest of red CDs, a win would be huge for the GOP.