Happy #MSSEN runoff time, folk! Consider this thread over the next 4 days--Cindy Hyde-Smith v. Mike Espy. Here's what I can tell you: There's a heck of an important conversation taking place in this great state right now. Really glad to be here. If I may, welcome to Mississippi:
Hinds County (Jackson=county seat) with absentee ballot lines this morning via @AlexLoveWJTV. Hinds County is MS’s largest; Clinton beat Trump by 43% in the county in 2016 —->
En route! --> Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith is holding two campaign events this afternoon -- her first in OVER A WEEK. Last time -- outside of the debate -- she was publicly accessible was *last* Thursday in D.C. on CapHill.
Cindy Hyde-Smith's two campaign stops today: DeSoto County (75% white) & Union County (82% white). These northern MS stops target the Memphis and Tupelo TV markets.
Cindy Hyde-Smith back on the stump in Hernando, Mississippi—> 
Stop #1: Cindy Hyde-Smith to gathering in Hernando: “Again, get out to vote is the most important message you can hear from me today...I want to be the senator that you are very proud to have supported...I do have the record of having voted with [Trump] 100% of the time.”
No media avail at stop #1. The campaign said we’ll be able to catch the senator at the next one this afternoon.
The drive into New Albany, a town of 8,500 in northern Mississippi, for Cindy Hyde-Smith’s Second event of this Saturday afternoon—>
Not an ideal exchange this Sat. night but nonetheless from #MSSEN-->
NBC: Could you clarify & articulate what you were apologizing for?
Hyde-Smith: If I hurt anybody’s feelings, if I hurt anybody’s feelings--you know, we’re just staying on the issues that are on peoples’ minds...
NBC: Could you clarify & articulate what you were apologizing for?
Hyde-Smith: If I hurt anybody’s feelings, if I hurt anybody’s feelings--you know, we’re just staying on the issues that are on peoples’ minds...
Also: Issues around race are on voters' minds. Her past statements are on voters' minds. I'll be posting a litany of voter sound over the next two days. To deny that this is an issue would be misguided. (Trust me, I'd prefer to talk about healthcare & trade issues from hay bales)
Julia Ward of Hattiesburg: "This will be the first time in a long time that I’ve actually got out and willing to hit the pavement because it’s so important. This is important because we’re trying to move forward." #MSSEN
Artis Smith of Hattiesburg: "I think it was terrible, especially out of Mississippi because that's where a lot of lynching would come from and stuff. Even some of my people got lynched." #MSSEN
Jacob White, infrequent Republican voter who did not vote Nov. 6, says he'll vote Espy in Tuesday's runoff: "I don't think she's a proper public figure to have. Especially making comments about hanging. We don't need that in Mississippi. Like, we already get a bad rep as it is."
Now do I think Espy is going to pull off a win? I'm suspect. More on that (with more voter sound) in the coming days...
