Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Malcolm McMillin for Lt. Governor in 2011?

I'm hearing whispers around town that Malcolm McMillin is considering a run for Lt. Governor in 2011 on the Democratic ticket. Thoughts?

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

He'll lose.

Matt Eichelberger said...

Anonymous, that's some pretty deep analysis. But the more I think about it, the less likely I am to dismiss tjis idea out of hand. If Billy Hewes is the GOP nominee, and I have no reason to think he won't be, McMillin holds a strong upper hand in terms of name recognition in Central Mississippi. (The Jackson media market covers a wide swath.) Plus, McMillin would certainly have the advantage in the "good ole boy" category.

This is a much more intriguing possibility than I thought when I first heard it.

Anonymous said...

It'd be nice to see that race get some personality. Hewes and Pickering aren't exactly what you'd call charismatic.

Matt Eichelberger said...

I hear Pickering's not running for anything this next time around, and is instead keeping his powder dry for a possible U.S. Senate run.

Anonymous said...

You are dreaming Matt. First, McMillin has some significant baggage that the GOP will pummel him merciless about the head with on the trail. Second, his (declining) power base in Hinds will be neutralized by Madison+Rankin. Guaranteed. Third, McMillin record is paper thin. He's repeatedly mis-managed the finances at the HCSD and his recent stint as JPD Chief was a complete disaster.

He's not a compelling statewide candidate for the 2nd most powerful job in Mississippi. You're looking at nothing more than a much older version of Jaime Franks with much less name recognition.

Matt Eichelberger said...

Anonymous, what's the baggage you speak of? I'm not aware of any. As for his "power base" being outweighed by Madison & Rankin, no one ever said he'd get elected to statewide office on the backs of Hinds County voters. That's absurd. I said he'd have Hewes beat in name ID in Central Mississippi. And that's absolutely true. Go to Pinelake, the Flowood Chamber of Commerce, or the Reunion Clubhouse, and 1 out of 10 will have heard of Billy Hewes. 9 out of 10 will know McMillin. Now, you know as well as I do that early name ID doesn't decide a race. But it doesn't hurt.

And I'm not saying McMillin getting in the race is a good or bad idea. I've merely brought this up for discussion.

But let's hear it, Anonymous. What's the baggage?

Anonymous said...

Not gonna share it here but if you think that Malcolm McMillin ain't got no skeletons (he's got a closet) then you just aren't in the loop.

As far as name recognition. Don't mean a hill of beans in Madison or Rankin counties. For a job as important as Lt. Gov those folks are going to vote for the person with the (R) next to their name. Plain and simple.

Kingfish said...

Guess we know who Mac has in his pocket.

Anonymous said...

Maybe the game-changing influx of Hispanics Jim is predicting will arrive by 2011 to save the day.

Matt Eichelberger said...

Kingfish, I'm pretty sure you know better than that. The only reason McMillin could pick me out of a lineup (presuming he even could) would be because I've subpoenaed him and cross-examined him before, and in a not too pleasant fashion.

I'm still trying to find where I've endorsed his candidacy on here. All I've said is that it's interesting, and that he might perform better than I thought when I first heard it.

Anonymous said...

It is interesting, and if someone thinks that with money Mac couldn't make a legitimate run for it, they are living in a pipe dream. Put him on a few well done TV commercials and see what happens against a luke warm republican candidate.

The democrats have been putting up joke candidates for years who still manage to get decent returns against legitimate republican candidates. They put up someone with a catchy personality like Mac, and he can make a run. Not sayin' he'll win, but it ain't one to write-off either.

Anonymous said...

Mac would be nothing more than a rotund older version of Jaime Franks. He'd be pro-gun, anti-gay, anti-abortion, pro-death penalty and everything else Franks was on the issues. If you think that will win then please, by all means, run him.

Anonymous said...

So what? On the issues where would he differ with Franks?

Jim Craig said...

Why lower our sights? Sheriff McMillin would be just as good a Democratic candidate for GOVERNOR!

Matt Eichelberger said...

"Mac would be nothing more than a rotund older version of Jaime Franks. He'd be pro-gun, anti-gay, anti-abortion, pro-death penalty and everything else Franks was on the issues."

So, Anonymous @ 3:24, by that logic, Haley's nothing but a rotund, older version of Jamie Franks, right?

Sorry, that was too easy...

Anonymous said...

Mac for Governor. He can talk about his tough-on-crime record that decreased crime rates in Jackson.

Ooops.

Kingfish said...

Yes, Mac could manage state finances the same way he managed the JPD and HCSO budgets.

nmisscommenter said...

The bizarre shadow-boxing between various people posting as Anonymous and Matt (with Kingfish and Jim weighing in briefly) makes this comment thread essentially unreadable.

Maybe it would be more interesting if I read it with the assumption that Anonymous was one person suffering from severe multiple personality disorder. Just how many different personalities are in there trying to get out?

Jim Craig said...

May I ask, which Governor HAS "managed State finances?"

Kingfish said...

You're right Jim. Considering how often the Democrats in the legislature have tried to bankrupt the state whether it was Musgrove or Barbour, Mac might fit right in with them.

Jim Craig said...

Surely you jest, Kingfish. If Governor Barbour had signed the original tobacco tax increase when Amy Tuck was Lt. Governor, we'd have a lot more income by now.

Anonymous said...

Them Hispanics are known to be chain smokers.