Recently, it has been projected that in a district in Northern Mississippi, Democrat Travis Childers has won a seat in Congress. One would ask: What is the significance of such a victory? While Childers won the seat, that seat has been controlled by the Republican Party ever since 1994. That would mean it was under GOP control for at least 13 to 14 years. 13 years is definitely a long time for a party to be in control of a seat.
It is understandable that due to that district being primarily Republican. However, it was a Democratic victory in a Republican district. This win could be a measurement on the blow to the Republican Party and at the same time to the increase in strength to the Democratic Party.
The seat was vacated by then Representative Roger Wicker. Wicker left the seat after he was suggested by Governor Haley Barbour to replace Trent Lott in the Senate. Since then, the seat in the House of Representatives has been left vacant. That would mean that the seat was up for grabs.
Lott retired back in December to become a lobbyist.
For the seat vacated by Wicker, it was Childers against Greg Davis, the Republican Mayor of Southaven, Mississippi. Childers had defeated Davis in the elections. While this could be considered a “small” victory, it seems far from it. Childers had defeated Davis by three points. But, there had to be a second vote because neither candidate got more than 50 percent.
The GOP had even tried to link Childers and Democratic co-frontrunner Senator Barack Obama together. But, it had blown up in the faces of those in the GOP. In one ad, it said that Obama endorsed Childers. But, Childers explains that he did not get an endorsement from Obama.
In short, linking Childers to Obama and Reverend Wright did not work. However, it does reveal that there are still Democrats not that willing to align with Obama. Well, not yet. The race is going on between Obama and co-frontrunner Senator Hillary Clinton. Recently, Clinton crushed Obama in West Virginia. However, it did not do much to affect the delegate math that was against Clinton.
It seems that Obama may end up being the eventual Democratic nominee. But, Clinton could still pull an upset victory.