/Firestorm over public hanging, vote suppression remarks triggers surge in campaign cash

Firestorm over public hanging, vote suppression remarks triggers surge in campaign cash

Each candidate is reporting daily large campaign contributions to Federal Election Commission. Thursday’s contribution of $163,500 was the largest single-day haul so far. Espy received contributions from several individuals. Hyde-Smith reported $138,600 in contributions over a period of two days last week. Federal law requires that large contributions must be reported within 48 hours of their receipt. After neither candidate received a majority vote in Nov. 6, the first election, the two candidates are now engaged in a fierce runoff. Although the Senate race was quiet, Hyde-Smith’s video last Sunday showed her saying that she would attend a “public hang.” This triggered renewed interest and national funding. A second video of Hyde-Smith speaking to supporters at Mississippi State University about her support for steps to suppress “liberal votes” at other state universities sparked renewed interest. Fox News also reported that Espy had lied about how much money he received lobbying for Laurent Gbagbo (ex-President of Ivory Coast) who is currently being tried at The Hague. He faces charges of murder, sexual assault, and torture. According to the Hill Espy claimed that he accepted $400,000 of the $750,000 payment. However, federal records show that he actually received the entire payment. According to the Espy campaign, he stopped lobbying for the Cocoa and Coffee Board of the country when unrest began. The Hyde-Smith campaign, for its part, has claimed that her remarks about voter suppression and public hangings were not meant to be serious and has criticized the media for reporting them. Strong efforts are underway to keep Mississippi red, even though Republicans hold the majority of the U.S. Senate seats regardless of Mississippi’s Nov. 27 vote. According to multiple outlets, President Donald Trump will spend the day in Tupelo, along with the Gulf Coast, before the election. The National Republican Senatorial Committee plans to spend at most $1 million on a pro-Hyde-Smith TV ad-campaign. Other Republican parties have also begun to contribute money to the race. The maximum allowed amount by PACs for contributions to Hyde Smith for the runoff was $5,000 each from the Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee state parties. National Democrats think the state is at play, especially after Hyde Smith’s comments where she praised a Tupelo supporter and said that if he invited her for a public hanging, she would be in the front row. The Democratic-aligned Majority PAC is purchasing airtime statewide. Their first TV commercial was released on Thursday. It featured an attack on Hyde-Smith. Democratic Senators Democratic Sens.
Candidates themselves are collecting large checks, mostly from outside of the state. Hyde-Smith raised $288,000. Espy raised $317,567 since the Nov. 6 special elections. Hyde-Smith raised $4.2 million more than Espy, even if you include money raised prior to the Nov. 6 election. Espy, the former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, had $248,211 cash in hand, while Hyde-Smith, who is a former state commissioner for agriculture and commerce, had $204,460. Former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour contributed a personal donation. A number of Barbour’s Washington, D.C.-based lobbying firm, BGR, donated to the Hyde Smith campaign. Members of the entertainment industry are among Espy’s contributors, including Steven Spielberg, a renowned director, and Lorne Michaels (Saturday Night Live producer). Marsha and Governor Governor. Phil Bryant, who will replace Senator Thad Cochran, is the strong favorite to retain the seat. In recent days, Espy has been criticized for being too liberal for Mississippi. He was the first African American U.S. House Member since 1880. Espy was asked recently about the impact of the video. He stated that he knew Hyde Smith’s comments were “hurtful”, and “sure inflamed passions.” Is that a sign they will vote? I don’t know. “All I can do is keep a straight face and knock on doors,” the Farm Bureau sponsored only debate will air live on Tuesday across the state via multiple NBC stations. Follow Mississippi Today for all coverage of the historic runoff between Cindy Hyde Smith and Mike Espy. To support this work, make a regular donation to the Spring Member Drive today. This will allow us to continue important work such as this story.