oh hey well will you look at that

[rydra_wong]

https://twitter.com/mviser/status/1063868172330254336

Mike Espy remains the underdog, but Republicans with access to private polling say Hyde-Smith’s lead has narrowed significantly in recent days. Republicans need only to look to Alabama, where Doug Jones pulled out a surprise win last year, to stoke concern

With link to WaPo: In Mississippi, Republican concern rises over a U.S. Senate runoff that should have been a romp

This is who Cindy Hyde-Smith is:

https://twitter.com/LamarWhiteJr/status/1063192983254822912

Cindy Hyde-Smith on voter suppression: "And then they remind me, that there's a lot of liberal folks in those other schools who that maybe we don't want to vote. Maybe we want to make it just a little more difficult. And I think that's a great idea." (with video)

See also: TPM: GOP Worries Mississippi Senate Seat May Be In Peril After Senator’s Missteps

And just now: Walmart Rescinds Support Of Sen. Hyde-Smith, Requests Contribution Refund

This is specifically after publicity about their donation, so yeah, this stuff has an effect.

JuddLegum is on the ball with this again.

Oh, the latest:

https://twitter.com/mattmfm/status/1064945542705369088

There’s a Facebook photo of Cindy Hyde-Smith posing in a Confederate hat at the home of Jefferson Davis. Her post reads: “Mississippi history at its best!” (photo and link included)

Volunteering options to support Espy include texting to get the word out, which might be a good option for people who are not phone-capable.

Comments

[julian]

Plus, as Ford says lower down in comments, the guy in the picture with her is neoconfederate Sons of Confederate Veterans commander Greg Stewart. (Who's a big ol' fan of the founder of the KKK, among other things.)

[rydra_wong]

Who is Ford? I saw a mention of Stewart being part of "Free Mississippi" (also listed by the SPLC as a hate group), not "Sons of Confederate Veterans" -- if you've got a reference to that, can you link it? Thanks!

[julian]

My brain is stupid and conflated Matt Ford from The New Republic with Matt McDermott. Apologies. (I think I saw a tweet from Ford just before reading McDermott's.)

The second link does mention Stewart's membership in SCV, but here's another, in which he's actually listed as Heritage Chairman, not commander. (Also Public Relations Officer.)

2016 NPR article, 2017 newspaper article.

[redbird]

Has anyone gotten a useful response from the Espy campaign? I signed up to either phone or text to get the word out; in response, I've gotten several requests for money but nothing else.

[snickfic]

Oh wow, Walmart!! Great to see movement from the giants.