JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The Latest on a U.S. Senate special election runoff in Mississippi (all times local):
5:05 p.m.
Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey says America faces a “moral moment,” and he’s urging Mississippi voters to support fellow Democrat Mike Espy in a U.S. Senate race.
Booker appeared Monday at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. He told about 150 people that Espy will work to protect Social Security and to maintain the federal mandate for health insurance companies to cover of people with pre-existing conditions. Booker spoke to an overflow crowd of more than 100 outside an auditorium.
Espy is trying to unseat Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, who is endorsed by President Donald Trump.
Hyde-Smith was appointed to serve temporarily when Republican Sen. Thad Cochran retired in April. The winner of a Nov. 27 special election runoff gets the final two years of the term.
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2:10 p.m.
Former Vice President Joe Biden is endorsing a Democrat for U.S. Senate in a Mississippi runoff election.
Biden says in a statement Monday that Mike Espy promises to protect Social Security, Medicare and the federal requirement that health insurance companies cover people with pre-existing medical conditions.
Espy is a former congressman and was U.S. agriculture secretary in 1993 and 1994. He is trying to unseat Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith, who is endorsed by President Donald Trump.
Hyde-Smith was appointed to serve temporarily when Republican Sen. Thad Cochran retired in April. The winner of a Nov. 27 special election runoff gets the final two years of the term.
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10:40 a.m.
President Donald Trump is repeating his support of an appointed Republican senator from Mississippi who is engaged in an intense campaign to remain in office.
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith faces Democrat Mike Espy in a Nov. 27 runoff in the final unresolved U.S. Senate race this year.
Trump tweeted Monday: “@cindyhydesmith loves Mississippi and our Great U.S.A.”
The president will hold two rallies in Mississippi the evening before the election.
Democrats seen as potential 2020 presidential candidates are campaigning for Espy, who’s a former U.S. agriculture secretary. Sen. Kamala Harris of California was in Mississippi on Saturday and Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey is appearing Monday.
Hyde-Smith was appointed to serve temporarily when Republican Sen. Thad Cochran retired in April. The runoff winner gets the final two years of the term.
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