FRCR HELPS MISSISSIPPI DEMOCRAT TRAVIS CHILDERS GET “SEISMIC” WIN

       µ A “remarkable upset” That Should Have Been “an easy GOP win.”

µ Beat Back Swift Boat-Style GOP Attacks Using Rev. Wright

µ Won Unprecedented 4 Elections in 12 Weeks

This district is one of the most conservative-minded districts in America.  George Bush won this district by 25 points in 2004.  The incumbent Republican congressman won with 66 percent of the vote in 2006.

Childers won in spite of four underhanded GOP TV commercials that attempted to link Travis Childers to Barack Obama and Reverend Jeremiah Wright, in the height of the Reverend Wright controversy two weeks ago.

Because this was a special election and due to Mississippi’s unique primary and general election runoff system, Childers ran and won four elections in 12 weeks.  Governor Haley Barbour called the elections back-to-back in an effort to assist the Republican candidate.  His plan failed.

One publication said the GOP rolled out “every big gun” to hold on to the seat.  Dick Cheney, Governor Barbour and Governor Mike Huckabee all campaigned for Davis, and John McCain recorded phone messages.

"This was the result of an incredible team effort," said John Rowley, FRCR President.  "We had the perfect candidate with an amazing group of people helping him on the ground in Mississippi. DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen and the DCCC staff made this race a priority, and it made the difference. We want to thank Charles Halloran especially for his herculean efforts on the ground to help Travis get across the finish line." 

“That’s a seismic election.  The earth moved.” -- Tim Russert

“I’ve never seen anything like it in my life…It’s like Democrats losing to Republicans in Brooklyn.” -- Chris Mathews

“We can spin it anyway you want to, but that Mississippi race was a critical one.   It was one the Republicans should have won….the Republican brand is badly damaged.” -- Mike Huckabee

“…a possible preview for a widespread GOP thrashing in November, and it shows that trying to link local Democrats in conservative districts to Sen. Barack Obama and his former pastor was not a winning strategy.” -- CNN

"…a political thunderbolt across America tonight." -- DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen

“Democrats scored a remarkable upset victory … sending a clear signal of national problems ahead for Republicans in the fall.” -- New York Times

“…a huge upset, and an indication of terrible year ahead for the Republicans…In theory, this should be an easy win for them.” -- Merle Black, a Southern politics expert at Emory University

“Democrats picked up a northern Mississippi House seat in one of the most conservative-minded districts in the country Tuesday night - an upset  that will reverberate darkly through a House Republican caucus...” -- Politico

“…the next couple of days are not going to be pretty." -- GOP congressional aide anonymously quoted in Politico.

“The loss could send shockwaves through the Republican Party, where murmurs about a leadership shakeup have become more and more audible.” -- The Hill

"A wake-up call" -- Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio)