Mississippi Senate Race

Close associates of Sen. Thad Cochran, top Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, are cautiously optimistic that in 2008 at age 70 he will run for a sixth term in 2008 for a Mississippi seat that otherwise might be in jeopardy for the GOP.

Cochran is less than certain to run because he lost his Appropriations chairmanship in the recent elections. His decision may be based on his evaluation of chances to regain a GOP majority within the next six years.
Mississippi Republicans had worried about losing the state's other Senate seat before Sen. Trent Lott decided to seek another term in 2006. Former state Attorney General Mike Moore, the probable Democratic Senate candidate, is better known than Rep. Chip Pickering, the leading Republican prospect if there is an open seat.