The Dems have won another one, y'all

The newest Democratic Congressman, Travis Childers of Mississippi: Dark Lord Cheney will be unhappy

This one was the special election in Mississippi's 1st Congressional District, which has been Republican, won in a landslide by Democrat Travis Childers! The Jackson Clarion-Ledger reports in Democrat wins congressional race by Natalie Chandler 05/14/08:

With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Childers had 57,276 votes to Davis' 49,314, based on unofficial returns. [Childers 54%, Davis 46%]

The counties in which Childers led [Republican candidate Greg] Davis include Alcorn, Benton, Lee, Tippah, Prentiss, Yalobusha and Choctaw. Davis had a commanding lead over Childers in DeSoto County. Tate also is among the counties he carried.

Childers' victory "changes the dynamics going into the fall elections," said his campaign press secretary, Terry Cassreino, who also is spokesman for the Mississippi Democratic Party. "Democrats weren't supposed to win this seat."

Voter turnout was mixed in the district that also includes Oxford, Booneville, Tupelo and Columbus, but it was higher than projected in DeSoto County, a Republican stronghold where Davis lives. Circuit Clerk Dale Thompson credited the turnout to local, bipartisan efforts to energize voters.

This is a good reminder of why the Dems need to be seriously contesting every Senate and Congressional race in "red" states like Mississippi. Because not everyone is "red" there. At the very least, it forces the Republicans to spend money there rather than elsewhere. And it builds the party for moments like this.

And an added sweetner: "GOP Vice President Dick Cheney visited the county Monday in support of Davis." Good on Natalie Chandler for that construction: "GOP Vice President".

Tags: dick cheney, travis childers