Trump to campaign for Hyde Smith in Mississippi run-off battle against Mike Epsy despite racist overtures
By Mona Austin
POTUS is headed to Gulfport for a roundtable on the First Step Act (aimed at lowering recidivism), Biloxi and Tupelo for Make America Great rallies in a two-for-one effort to both draw minority voters and placate conservatives.
President Trump will once again campaign to motivate the Republican base ahead of a tight mid-term runoff in a state where the Confederate Flag flies high-- Mississippi. The special senate run-off election takes place tomorrow between Trump-endorsed Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democrat Mike Espy. Trump critics are alarmed by the optics of the trip in light of recent inflammatory comments from his candidate. A video recording of Hyde-Smith caught her saying she would attend a public hanging of her opponent -- who is black -- surfaced and she attempted to downplay the comment saying she was joking. Trump took her words at face value saying she is a "tremendous woman" who he thinks will win and the comment, “. . .was just sort of said in jest, as she said... it's a shame that she has to go through this.”
Today before his departure Trump said he know Mrs. Hyde-Smith and, "She misspoke. . . and certainly didn't mean it and as I understand it she has lready apologized and very strongly."
Then another video surfaced wherein Hyde-Smith supported voter suppression.
"They remind me, that there's a lot of liberal folks in those other schools who that maybe we don't want to vote. Maybe we want to make it just a little more difficult. And I think that's a great idea," the Senator said in Starkville on Nov. 3. She also once said the President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis was "Mississippi at its best."
This morning outside of the state capital a couple of nooses were hanging and hate signs were posted.Mississippi has recorded the most lynchings in U.S. history and has the highest population of Blacks, most of whom are Democrats. While there the president will court minority voters in a roundtable discussion on the FIRST STEP Act, which was designed to improve our nation’s criminal justice system and reduce recidivism rates.
POTUS is headed to Gulfport for a roundtable on the First Step Act (aimed at lowering recidivism), Biloxi and Tupelo for Make America Great rallies in a two-for-one effort to both draw minority voters and placate conservatives.
President Trump will once again campaign to motivate the Republican base ahead of a tight mid-term runoff in a state where the Confederate Flag flies high-- Mississippi. The special senate run-off election takes place tomorrow between Trump-endorsed Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democrat Mike Espy. Trump critics are alarmed by the optics of the trip in light of recent inflammatory comments from his candidate. A video recording of Hyde-Smith caught her saying she would attend a public hanging of her opponent -- who is black -- surfaced and she attempted to downplay the comment saying she was joking. Trump took her words at face value saying she is a "tremendous woman" who he thinks will win and the comment, “. . .was just sort of said in jest, as she said... it's a shame that she has to go through this.”
Today before his departure Trump said he know Mrs. Hyde-Smith and, "She misspoke. . . and certainly didn't mean it and as I understand it she has lready apologized and very strongly."
Then another video surfaced wherein Hyde-Smith supported voter suppression.
"They remind me, that there's a lot of liberal folks in those other schools who that maybe we don't want to vote. Maybe we want to make it just a little more difficult. And I think that's a great idea," the Senator said in Starkville on Nov. 3. She also once said the President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis was "Mississippi at its best."
This morning outside of the state capital a couple of nooses were hanging and hate signs were posted.Mississippi has recorded the most lynchings in U.S. history and has the highest population of Blacks, most of whom are Democrats. While there the president will court minority voters in a roundtable discussion on the FIRST STEP Act, which was designed to improve our nation’s criminal justice system and reduce recidivism rates.
With Stacy Abrahms and Andrew Gillum losing their bids for governor in two Southern states, the Mississippi race is the last ray of hope for an African American candidate to rise to the occasion this election season.
A combination of statistical projections and a history of racial bias in the state suggest that an Epsy win is unlikely, but if he prevails he will make history as the first Black candidate elected to the senate since Reconstruction. Espy already made history as the first African-American congressman from Mississippi since the 1800s and has served as the Sec. of Agriculture under President Bill Clinton.
Hyde-Smith vs. Espy is the final battle from the 2018 mid-term elections.