With Election Day looming, state Sen. Lydia Chassaniol has taken to the phones to stump for U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran.
In a robo-call that went out over the weekend, Chassaniol endorses the six-term incumbent and also slams the attendance record of her Senate colleague, Chris McDaniel, who is challenging Cochran in Tuesday’s Republican primary.
“He’s not up for the job,” Chassaniol, a Winona Republican, says of McDaniel on the recorded phone call. “It has been said that 80 percent of success is just showing up. Sadly, Sen. McDaniel has the worst attendance record in the Mississippi Senate. I have no reason to believe it would improve in Washington.”
A current television ad claims McDaniel, a tea party favorite, has been absent 118 times on Senate votes in the past four years. The McDaniel campaign disputes that charge, claiming the Cochran campaign was “cherry-picking” data.
Chassaniol, whose district includes portions of Leflore and Carroll counties, said it was an “honor” to be asked to make the call on Cochran’s behalf.
“We are so fortunate to have his seniority, his strength and his wisdom,” Chassaniol said this morning. “I am honored to be able to tell folks that Thad Cochran is the better choice in the election.”
For Greenwood tea party activists, though, Chassaniol’s involvement in the congressional contest was a big disappointment.
Robbie Nichols, a McDaniel supporter, said she had voted for Chassaniol in the past but would be reconsidering in light of Chassaniol’s endorsement of Cochran.
“It most definitely will impact my support of her in the future,” Nichols said. “She should be backing Sen. McDaniel because he best represents the values of our area. They’re family values, they’re lower taxes, they’re more parental involvement in our schools — not Common Core.”
Nichols said she doesn’t feel that Chassaniol’s and Cochran’s views “are very representative of the people of the Delta.”
Ann Gray, another Greenwood tea party activist, said she hadn’t kept a close eye on state-level politics and wasn’t familiar with Chassaniol. Told of Chassaniol’s endorsement of Cochran, though, Gray said, “I think she’s making a big mistake.”
Gray said that Mississippi voters needed to turn out Tuesday to kick Cochran out of office.
“I think they’re wrong, if you want my honest opinion,” Gray said. “I think we need term limits and need to start over.”
Chassaniol said she’s been behind Cochran from the very beginning of the primary race. The Winona senator said she was thrilled that Cochran had decided not to retire.
“As soon as I heard he was going to run again and had opposition, I put a bumper sticker on my car. As soon as I could get a yard sign, I put one in my yard,” Chassaniol said. “I just feel that in Mississippi, as long as we’ve got a senator of his stature — and he’s widely respected in the U.S. Senate — and he’s willing to serve, that he’s the best choice.”
Chassaniol pointed to Cochran’s seniority, as well as the likelihood that he’d once again chair the Senate Appropriations Committee if the Republicans retake control of that chamber, as strong reasons to back him.
“I think anybody on the Mississippi Gulf Coast could tell you how important (Cochran’s Appropriations Committee chairmanship) was when Hurricane Katrina came through,” Chassaniol said.
Although Chassaniol said she has “no personal animosity” against McDaniel, his attendance record was troubling.
“Attendance does matter,” Chassaniol said. “My main concern is that he has a very poor attendance record.”
• Contact Bryn Stole at 581-7235 or bstole@gwcommonwealth.com.
