Cochran Supports McCullough

DeSoto Times - Cochran throws support to McCullough - U.S. Senator Thad Cochran, the state's senior U.S. Senator, is supporting former Tupelo Mayor Glenn L. McCullough, Jr. in the First U.S. Congressional District race. Cochran, the state's senior U.S. Senator, is supporting McCullough through a $5,000 contribution announced Monday.

"I was thrilled to get Senator Cochran's phone call offering his support and I am very humbled by it, " McCullough said. "Senator Cochran is our state's most powerful voice in Washington and all Mississippians respect and admire him. His confidence means a lot to me."

The contribution was made from Cochran's Leadership PAC, the Senate Victory Fund. The contribution will be noted in the campaign's required Federal Election Commission (FEC) filing.

McCullough said he and Cochran have worked together on projects for 15 years, first as a member of Governor Kirk Fordice's administration and then as Mayor of Tupelo and Chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority. McCullough was appointed to the latter position by President Bush on Sen. Cochran's recommendation.

In 1978, Thad Cochran was elected to the United States Senate becoming the first Republican in over 100 years to win a statewide election in Mississippi. Since 1978, he has been re-elected every six years, most recently in 2002 with 85 percent of the vote. Cochran currently serves on the Agriculture, Appropriations and Rules committees.

In April of 2006, Time Magazine named Senator Cochran one of "America's 10 Best Senators," calling him the "Quiet Persuader" to describe the "courtly manner in which he gets important things accomplished for the State of Mississippi and the nation."

McCullough led all candidates in the March 11 primary and now seeks the 50 percent plus one majority needed to earn the Republican nomination on April 1. He faces Southaven Mayor Greg Davis in the April 1 run-off. McCullough also received the endorsement of the third-place finisher in the March 11 primary, Dr. Randy Russell of Oxford.

Davis has received the support of former U.S. Sen. Trent Lott. Lott's resignation in December set off a chain reaction in Mississippi politics. Former U.S. Rep. Roger Wicker was tapped to take Lott' s seat, making his old House seat vacant.