Supporters, political observers, and even reporters have witnessed McDaniel’s self imposed deadlines pass without him making a decision: * First, it was the fall 2017. Then it was October’s end. McDaniel doesn’t give a time frame. He is not tipping his hand four weeks after the March 2 qualifying deadline. McDaniel stated, “I know it sounds strange to many people these days, almost unbelievable and almost supernatural, but God has the ability to bring peace to a person’s heart.” It may strike me tonight or tomorrow morning. When I feel it, I will make the announcement fast, then we can move. He said, “I’m still waiting for the light bulb to turn on.” According to a report filed with Federal Election Commission Wednesday, a pro-McDaniel super PAC — Remember Mississippi PAC – raised more than $1million in 2017. FEC records indicate that $1 million was raised by two out-of-state donors. Mississippi has $1.2 million in cash at the moment. In a Wednesday press release, leaders of the PAC urged McDaniel not to run, stating that “Mississippians have been silenced for to long, their values ignored and their will trampled.” Sen. Roger Wicker filed his year-end report to the FEC on Wednesday. It reported just under $1million in fundraising in the last three months of 2017. This brings the campaign’s cash to $4.1 million. Wicker stated in a press release that he would continue to work with President Trump to help grow the economy, protect our borders, and keep Americans secure. “Our campaign will continue to organize volunteers from all 82 Mississippi counties, and earn the trust of voters in this year’s Republican primary and general elections.” McDaniel has several options for his future office. The most important decision is whether or not to run for Wicker. McDaniel has considered running for lieutenant governor in 2019. Many political experts expect Sen. Thad Cchran, the long-serving senior senator, will step down in 2019. McDaniel expressed an interest in running for that position. This vacancy would set off a November special election without a primary. McDaniel stated that it seemed like time is more on our side than against us. “So we relax, take our time and keep working. I speak two nights per week. I don’t have the perfect understanding of how to jump in any one of these three races. It will hit me the day it happens, the day that the light goes off, it will be an easy decision.” McDaniel rose to political prominence after he nearly overtook Cochran in 2014. McDaniel received more votes than Cochran, but Cochran won more votes in the runoff three weeks later. After refusing to concede the race, he spent weeks challenging the results in court. McDaniel has been touring through the state, maintaining a large portion of that 2014 base with provocative social media posts for months. McDaniel stated, “We’ve tried Roger Wicker’s way for 100years.” McDaniel continued, “We’ve always used our seniority to drawdown federal funds, but for 100 years we have remained dead last following the playbook.” “Our suggestion? It’s time to give another shot,” he said. “And it might not be me. But a like-minded individual will be more loyal to MS residents than any lobbyists, cronies or insiders in Washington. It’s something our base sees, and is frustrated about.” Pro-McDaniel PAC received $500,000 each from Dick Uihlein and Robert Mercer, who were out-of-state mega-donors that helped finance President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign. Uihlein funded a large portion of the campaign for Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore. Moore, who is facing multiple allegations of sexual harassment, and assault, lost to Doug Jones in a special election in December. Mercer was recently in the news for cutting ties to Steve Bannon, Trump’s former chief strategist. McDaniel was publicly supportive of McDaniel, and pushed McDaniel against Wicker. McDaniel said that he was running against the establishment at the time Bannon started with Breitbart. In that regard, we predated Trump. In that regard, we predated Bannon. We don’t feel that the association, however loosely structured, can hurt us because people know that we did this well before Bannon. Support this work by making a regular donation today to celebrate our Spring Member Drive. This will allow us to continue important work such as this story. Our reporters give a human face to policy by listening and understanding Mississippi’s communities. To ensure that our work is aligned with the priorities and needs of all Mississippians, we are listening to you. Click the button below to let us know what you think.