Runoff recount denied by Mississippi Supreme Court
The Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday refused to reconsider its ruling denying state Sen. Chris McDaniel (R) access to unredacted poll books for inspection as he seeks to overturn a Senate primary.
McDaniel has yet to concede in his primary fight
with Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), despite Cochran's 7,667-vote lead in the runoff, now over a month ago.
The challenger has spent the past month poring over poll books looking for illegitimate votes and went to the state Supreme Court in pursuit of
poll books without personal information removed, but was denied once before. That information, which includes birthdates, would help him evaluate whether any residents who voted in the Democratic primary came out to vote again in the Republican
runoff, an action barred by Mississippi elections law.
Cochran made an aggressive play for African American Democrats in the runoff, and McDaniel's supporters believe much of Cochran's win margin is comprised of "illegitimate crossover votes."
OpEd: Cochran accused of courting blacks for runoff vote
Chris McDaniel condemned racially charged questions asked by an unidentified participant during a press call with aides to Sen. Thad Cochran. Given a chance to comment on the remarks in a CNN interview on Friday, Cochran's GOP Senate primary challenger
in Mississippi condemned them but said his campaign doesn't know anything about the caller. "Certainly, we condemn any racist comments whatsoever, but bear in mind, we have no idea who that person is," McDaniel said. "Neither do you.
So, you understand there are people out there we have no control over. We have no idea who that person is."
In a media call on Wednesday with Cochran aides, an anonymous caller repeatedly asked questions about the senator's interaction with
African-American voters. "If black people were harvesting cotton, why is it OK to harvest their votes?" the caller asked. Some McDaniel supporters have accused the Cochran campaign of paying African-Americans to vote for the senator in the runoff.
State Sen. Chris McDaniel (R) challenged a church crowd here to fight to revive America's Christian foundation during a Sunday speech at a southern Mississippi Pentecostal church. "Today is the day we begin to fight again," he told about 80 worshipers
gathered at the Word Alive Revival Center. "Go back out in your communities and make a difference again. It can't just stop at the church. Take it out to the streets. That's when you begin to reclaim your country again."
The Tea Party-backed candidate
made no mention of his own challenge to Sen. Thad Cochran. Instead, McDaniel delivered a political sermon of sorts, drawing from the scripture of the Founding Fathers to make a case for Christians to stand up and fight to reclaim America's culture
and reestablish the nation's Christian foundation. He quoted an array of American figures endorsing America's Christian values and encouraging a God-fearing nation, including John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry and others.
Tied to Tea Party and endorsed by conservative groups
A trio of outside groups endorsed a Mississippi Republican state legislator's primary challenge to Sen. Thad Cochran. Club for Growth PAC, the Senate Conservatives Fund and the Madison Project PAC all offered support for State Sen. Chris McDaniel,
who has tied himself closely with tea party groups and announced his bid earlier in the day.
The endorsing groups stressed that McDaniel has proven his right-wing bona fides. "Chris McDaniel is not part of the Washington establishment and he has
the courage to stand up to the big spenders in both parties," the Senate Conservatives Fund executive director said.
Cochran , mingled with about 70 donors at a reception this week at the National Republican Senatorial Committee headquarters.
He suggested this summer that it might take months before he shares his plans. Asked about the attacks, Cochran's spokesman emailed: "Senator Cochran has indicated that he will determine his plans regarding the 2014 election cycle later this year."