Salter: McCullough leads Davis / Debate Confirmed

ClarionLedger.com - Sid Salter Blog - New poll data: McCullough leads Davis 45 percent to 38 percent - Former Tupelo mayor and former TVA chairman Glenn McCullough has opened a seven percent lead on Southaven Mayor Greg Davis in the 1st Congressional District Republican second primary, according to a poll released by OnMessage, Inc. The poll shows both candidates with around 13 to 14 percent "unfavorable" ratings with McCullough's "favorable" ratings about 3 percent higher that Davis. The pollsters tell McCullough that the Davis campaign "has stagnated and is losing ground. Historically, candidates that lose momentum this rapidly always garner an even smaller percentage of the vote in the runoff election. This is exactly the scenario Davis now faces." In addition, the pollsters say that McCullough has climbed 23 percent in the last month on the "ballot test" to 48 percent. The OnMessage survey was conducted March 12 and 13, 2008. All interviews were conducted via telephone. The survey consists of 400 voters screened for likely participation in the April 1 Republican runoff election. Interviews were stratified by county to reflect turnout in the March 11 Republican primary. The margin of error for this study is +/- 4.9%.

ClarionLedger.com - Sid Salter Blog - 1st Congressional District GOP debates confirmed March 20 and March 27 - Lydia Quarles at the MSU Stennis Institute of Government has confirmed that 1st Congressional District GOP candidates Greg Davis and Glenn McCullough will debate March 20 in Aberdeen and March 27 in Senatobia. Thursday 20th: Debate in Aberdeen at Elkins Theatre on Commerce Street. GOP only. Doors open 6:30 for "meet and greet" with debate beginning at 7-ish. Debate will be between 60 and 75 minutes. 3 minute opening statements, questions directed to 1 candidate who has 2 minutes to answer, other candidate then given 2 minutes for rebuttal/response. Ending with 3 minute closings. There will be space available in the lobby of the Elkins for candidates to distribute materials. Thursday 27th: Debate in Senatobia on campus of Northwest MS CC. Same time frame and protocol.