The Jackson Clarion Ledger’s
Sid
Salter calls the contest between incumbent Democrat A.G. Jim Hood and his Republican Challenger Al Hopkins the “wild-card”
race in the Magnolia state.

But perhaps the most interesting
race looming in November is the one race in which Mississippi Democrats should
have a clear, decided advantage – Attorney General Jim Hood's re-election
campaign. Hood's in good graces with the Democratic Party and with the wealthy
trial lawyers who have tended in recent years to be the party's financial backers…While
Hood is the clear favorite in the race, Hopkins is a very credible candidate
and is capable of putting together enough constituencies statewide to make the
race interesting on his own.

Hopkins already has a fundraising
lead on Hood as of the July campaign finance reports. Hopkins had $356,000 cash
on hand to Hood's $289,000.

And that's before we see how much
Barbour does to help down ticket candidates try to achieve a down ticket sweep
for the GOP in November. Does Barbour simply make a few speeches and joint
appearances with Chaney, Hosemann and Hopkins using the spare change from his
$7.7 million campaign war chest to nail down a GOP win in the lieutenant
governor's race or does he share the wealth?

Read all about
it here.