20 Reasons in 20 Days

In case you haven't been following it, the Mississippi Democratic Party has kicked off a media campaign to drum up interest in the Nov. 7 election and to point out why Democratic candidates offer the best for the future of the state and the nation.

At stake on Nov. 7: A U.S. Senate seat, four U.S. House seats, a state Senate seat in the Delta, a state House seat in the Delta, a state Senate seat in the Pine Belt and a state House seat on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Democrats are running in each race.

So we have created a campaign we call 20 REASONS TO VOTE DEMOCRATIC. And we are releasing one a day through Election Day.

A quick review so far:

REASON 1: Fully fund education. Republican Gov. Haley Barbour has fought this issue repeatedly, but with Democrats backing public education it's time to make a move. Vote Democratic, put good people in office and fund education. (Issued Thursday, Oct. 19)

REASON 2: Raise the minimum wage. Republican U.S. Sen. Trent Lott has opposed an increase in the minimum wage nine straight times, with the latest vote coming June 21. That proposal would have increased the minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $7.25 an hour. (Issued Friday, Oct. 20)

REASON 3: National unity. Public opinion polls show a growing number of people oppose the Iraq war or disapprove of the way President Bush has handled the war on terrorism. Bush also has gone on the defensive with a series of speeches hopelessly comparing terrorist leaders to Hitler. Meanwhile, bipartisanship is a thing of the past. (Issued Saturday, Oct. 21)

REASON 4: Reduce grocery tax. Democrats in the Mississippi Legislature voted earlier this year for two separate bills, one to phase-out by 2014 the state tax of 7 cents on the dollar charged on the purchase of groceries and another to cut the tax in half. At the same time, the proposals would have raised the state cigarette tax from 18 cents to $1 a pack. Barbour vetoed both bills. (Issued Sunday, Oct. 22)

REASON 5: Oust Republican U.S. Sen. Trent Lott. Lott, who has held his U.S. Senate seat since he was elected in 1988 to replace retiring Sen. John Stennis, obviously thinks he is above discussing his stand on state and national issues. Lott has refused to debate Democratic opponent Erik Fleming. (Issued Monday, Oct. 23)