In late August Rasmussen polling indicated that incumbent Republican Senator Roger Wicker was leading Democratic challenger and former Governor Ronnie Musgrove : Election 2008: Mississippi Senate Special.
There’s little change in the race between appointed U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R) and former Governor Ronnie Musgrove (D). The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in Mississippi found Wicker attracts 47% of the vote, while Musgrove earns support from 42%. Last month, Wicker had a six-point edge.
When “leaners” are included, Wicker’s lead expands to nine percentage points, 52% to 43%. That’s the same as last month’s total.
Wicker was a Mississippi congressman from 1994 until the end of 2007. The Cato Institute says he voted in favor of eliminating trade barriers in 63% of his votes, and in favor of subsidies in 90% of his votes (In the Cato figure each axis goes from 0% to 100%. The higher an "X" is along the vertical axis the greater the opposition to subsidies, the further an "X" is to the right the greater the opposition to trade barriers).
Wicker was appointed to fill retiring Senator Trent Lott's seat in 2007; the Cato Institute doesn't show any Senate trade barrier votes for him. He's voted two for two in favor of subsidies.
Musgrove has hit out at Wicker for his support for trade. His campaign web page doesn't seem to have a position paper on this, but here's an ad hitting out at Wicker's votes:
Here's a link to a news story about the ad Musgrove Ad Accusses Wicker of Bad Trade Deals. The reporter interviewed a Wicker campaign spokesman for a response. Musgrove's web page does link to news stories about his attacks on Wicker's trade stance: Musgrove blasts trade agreements:
“Across the state there have been concerns that people have had about the loss of jobs, the high unemployment rate as a result of the bad trade agreements,” he said, listing NAFTA, CAFTA and others. “Roger Wicker and his special interest allies in Washington have written these trade agreements for the benefit of special interests.”
“It’s time we started standing up for our people and our workers in Mississippi,” Musgrove said. “I believe that we can have fair trade agreements for our farmers, our exporters and our manufacturers.”
“You can negotiate these free trade agreements where we get an equal benefit for our country,” Musgrove said. “Keep the worker as a priority. Right now our workers are being squeezed at the gas pumps, at the grocery stores and their pay and income remained about the same over the last several years.”
“... In many instances the reward they get for working at the furniture plant for years and years is for the plant to be closed, cheap furniture made in Asia and unemployment checks” which don’t cover bills, he said.
The current unemployment rate in the state is 8.5 percent, almost 3 points higher than when he left the governor’s office, Musgrove said.
Edit September 27, 2008
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