Marvin King, an associate professor of political sciences at the University of Mississippi knows that Mike Espy must win over moderate voters in order to win the election. King stated that the idea of Espy winning over a large number of moderate voters who voted in Trump’s favor in 2016 is difficult to imagine. King stated, “I don’t know if they’re enough split-ticket voters.” If you live in Mississippi and want to vote for Trump you will absolutely need him to keep the Senate. Trump will lose the election and Democrats control the Senate. Trump’s power and presidency will be weakened if he wins. King said, “For that reason, I just wonder whether there are enough defectors.” He could even say, “Let’s vote for this flag.” It doesn’t matter what one. Cindy Hyde Smith would be unable to make that claim. There are many ways to mobilize voters. Some suburban voters are sympathetic to Black Lives Matter and that could be a way to tie these things together in ways that gets more voters out.” King said that he also wonders if Joe Biden’s selection of Kamala Harris as vice president will inspire Black voters in Mississippi. Harris would be the first Black or Indian American vice president in American history. King referred to 2008 when Travis Childers, a Democrat, was elected to the U.S. Congress from Mississippi’s first congressional District. This was despite the historically high Black turnout President Barack Obama received. “It’s the presidential year. Espy might make some Travis Childers magic. King stated that this is a term I didn’t think I would use seriously but it’s possible. Is Kamala Harris likely to get more Black voters? It won’t be at the Obama level, but it will be more than Clinton’s 2016 election. If Mike Espy can get an additional 80,000-90,000.00 African American voters to vote, that might put him in striking distance.” King stated that he believes Hyde Smith’s connections with Trump are enough to win. King stated that he believes her strategy of lying low is safe, as she made some serious gaffes in 2018. King said, “As long you’re polling ahead, even if you haven’t raised as much money recently and as long Trump is polling ahead she can simply say, ‘I am a Trump Republican.’ King said, “But with that strategy there’s just nothing to voters.” I can see how people might be disengaged from the political process. “I can see why people might disengage from the political process in states like Mississippi. You just have to throw your hands up and ask, “What’s the point?”” Click here to return the expert opinion list.