The GOP primary challenger to Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran unveiled a new campaign ad Tuesday in which he promotes prayer in public schools and accuses Washington of abandoning conservative values.
State Sen. Chris McDaniel says in the “Mississippi is My Home” ad that he was born in the state and loved raising his family there. And he dubs himself as a “constitutional conservative.”
“I’m Chris McDaniel and I approve this message because our politicians in Washington have forgotten our conservative Mississippi values,” Mr. McDaniel says. “Here is where I stand. Prayer in public school? Yes. Obamacare? No. Second Amendment rights? Absolutely. More wasteful spending? Not a chance.”
The Mississippi race is shaping up to be the one battleground where a longtime incumbent could be seriously endangered from a primary threat from his right.
The primary fight in the latest in the ongoing battle over the direction of the GOP that pits tea partyers and grassroots conservatives against the GOP establishment.
Similar battles have played out in the past two elections.
The polling in the Mississippi primary race has been limited. The most recent poll, released earlier this month, showing that Mr. Cochran holds a 52 percent to 35 percent lead over Mr. McDaniel.
Mr. Cochran has support from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, while Mr. McDaniel has racked up endorsements from the Club for Growth, the Senate Conservatives Fund and the Madison Project.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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