Mississippians will head to the polls tomorrow to vote in the November general election. The most high profile race is between a long-term Republican senator and his democratic challenger. Most of the focus will be on the possibility that the democrat could win.
After 42 years in congress, Republican Senator Thad Cochran is facing a challenge from former one-term Democratic congressman Travis Childers.
Republican party chair Joe Nosef says he feels good about Cochran's chances of winning a seventh term but he is concerned about over-confidence that nearly cost Cochran the primary.
"One of the theory is that there are a lot of people that didn't vote for Thad Cochran on June third because they didn't think he could ever lose. I think there are a lot of people that didn't vote for that reason. Certainly we don't want to make that same mistake again," Nosef said.
Nosef believes that Tea Party activists in Mississippi have put the pain of losing that primary behind them and will in fact turnout and support Cochran.
But they remain the wild card in the race according to House Democratic Minority leader Bobby Moak.
Moak says Childers could knock off Cochran with strong democratic turnout if disaffected conservatives stay home.
"We have a portion of the Republican Party who may or may not support the Senator. So Childers gets an edge with that group if he turns his base out. That is going to be the real question for Tuesday," Moak said.
Childers has attempted to motivate Democratic supporters largely by making equal pay for women his central campaign theme.
All four incumbent Congressmen appear to be safe to win re-election.
Polls are open state wide from 7-to-7.
This is the first general election where voters will be required to show a government issued photo id to vote.
