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Mississippi's ugly past casts long shadow on Senate election Mississippi's ugly past casts long shadow on Senate election
(35 minutes later)
Mississippi voters are deciding a racially charged Senate election that has dredged up the Deep South state's ugly past. Mississippi voters are deciding a racially charged election that has dredged up the Deep South state's ugly past.
In the last Senate contest of the mid-term elections, white Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith faces an unexpectedly tough challenge by black Democrat Mike Espy.In the last Senate contest of the mid-term elections, white Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith faces an unexpectedly tough challenge by black Democrat Mike Espy.
The vote tightened after Ms Hyde-Smith was recorded telling a supporter she would happily attend a public hanging.The vote tightened after Ms Hyde-Smith was recorded telling a supporter she would happily attend a public hanging.
Nevertheless she is expected to win in the staunchly Republican state.Nevertheless she is expected to win in the staunchly Republican state.
The election became more competitive after a video emerged earlier this month of Ms Hyde-Smith telling a supporter: "If he invited me to a public hanging, I'd be on the front row."The election became more competitive after a video emerged earlier this month of Ms Hyde-Smith telling a supporter: "If he invited me to a public hanging, I'd be on the front row."
The senator's comment evoked the lynching of African Americans in a state whose past is rife with racial violence.The senator's comment evoked the lynching of African Americans in a state whose past is rife with racial violence.
According to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Mississippi had the highest number of lynchings in the nation from 1882 to 1968.According to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Mississippi had the highest number of lynchings in the nation from 1882 to 1968.
Mr Espy condemned his rival's comment as "reprehensible"; Ms Hyde-Smith maintained there was no "negative connotation".Mr Espy condemned his rival's comment as "reprehensible"; Ms Hyde-Smith maintained there was no "negative connotation".
The senator was further criticised when photos surfaced of her posing at the home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, with the caption "Mississippi history at its best". The Democrat has himself come under scrutiny for his 2011 lobbying work on behalf of Ivory Coast despot Laurent Gbagbo, who is on trial at the International Criminal Court.
Ms Hyde-Smith was further criticised when photos surfaced of her posing at the home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, with the caption: "Mississippi history at its best."
A video of Ms Hyde-Smith apparently encouraging voter suppression also emerged on Twitter.A video of Ms Hyde-Smith apparently encouraging voter suppression also emerged on Twitter.
That recording showed the senator saying there were some liberals "who maybe we don't want to vote - maybe we want to make it just a little more difficult [to vote]".That recording showed the senator saying there were some liberals "who maybe we don't want to vote - maybe we want to make it just a little more difficult [to vote]".
Her campaign later said the comment was a joke and the video had been "selectively altered", the Washington Post reported.Her campaign later said the comment was a joke and the video had been "selectively altered", the Washington Post reported.
At a 20 November debate, Ms Hyde-Smith gave a qualified apology to anyone she had offended, while adding that opponents had "twisted" her words "as a political weapon".At a 20 November debate, Ms Hyde-Smith gave a qualified apology to anyone she had offended, while adding that opponents had "twisted" her words "as a political weapon".
On Monday, several nooses were found at the Mississippi capitol in Jackson in an apparent protest against the tone of the election. On Monday, several nooses were found at the Mississippi capitol in Jackson in an apparent protest against the tenor of the campaign.
Signs alongside the ropes urged voters to elect "someone who respects the lives of lynch victims" and "remind people that times haven't changed", according to local media.Signs alongside the ropes urged voters to elect "someone who respects the lives of lynch victims" and "remind people that times haven't changed", according to local media.
Amid the hubbub around the race - which at first was expected to go comfortably Republican - President Donald Trump travelled to Mississippi on the eve of the vote to campaign for Ms Hyde-Smith. President Donald Trump travelled to Mississippi on the eve of the vote to campaign for Ms Hyde-Smith.
"I know her, and I know she apologised, and she misspoke," the Republican president told reporters on his way to the southern state."I know her, and I know she apologised, and she misspoke," the Republican president told reporters on his way to the southern state.
He painted Democrat Mr Espy as a far-left ideologue who would "rather protect illegal aliens than people who live in Mississippi", and questioned how he "fit in with Mississippi". He painted Mr Espy as a far-left ideologue who would "rather protect illegal aliens than people who live in Mississippi", and questioned how he "fit in with Mississippi".
So could a Democrat win?So could a Democrat win?
If he prevailed, Mr Espy would become the first black senator since the Reconstruction Era following the US Civil War. Mr Espy would become the first black senator since the Reconstruction era following the US Civil War.
His campaign has pushed the idea that electing Ms Hyde-Smith would stoke the trope of Mississippi as a racist southern state. His campaign has pushed the idea that electing Ms Hyde-Smith would stoke a lingering view of Mississippi as a racist southern state.
"We can't afford a senator who embarrasses us and reinforces the stereotypes we've worked so hard to overcome," one ad for the Democrat said."We can't afford a senator who embarrasses us and reinforces the stereotypes we've worked so hard to overcome," one ad for the Democrat said.
But Mr Espy faces an uphill struggle, and would need to overwhelmingly win the black vote and a substantial number of white voters to unseat his Republican opponent. The Democrat would need to overwhelmingly win the black vote and a substantial number of white voters to unseat his Republican opponent.
Ms Hyde-Smith's campaign meanwhile has critiqued Mr Espy's lobbying work and affiliations with an Ivory Coast dictator. So far, it appears the controversy surrounding Ms Hyde-Smith will not be enough to unseat her - most polls project victory for the Republican.
Comparisons have been drawn to last year's Alabama Senate race, which saw Democrat Doug Jones narrowly flip the seat after sexual assault allegations surfaced against Republican Roy Moore. Why is the election still unresolved?
But so far, it appears that none of the controversy surrounding Ms Hyde-Smith will be enough to unseat her - most polls project victory for the Republican. After Republican Senator Thad Cochran resigned in April, a special election for Mississippi's US Senate seat was arranged.
Why is the election still ongoing?
After Republican Senator Thad Cochran resigned in April, a special election for Mississippi's US Senate seat began.
Under the state's law, if no candidate wins over 50% of the votes, a runoff election must take place.Under the state's law, if no candidate wins over 50% of the votes, a runoff election must take place.
On 6 November, both Ms Hyde-Smith and Mr Espy received about 41% of the vote.On 6 November, both Ms Hyde-Smith and Mr Espy received about 41% of the vote.
Polls in the state close at 20:00 local time on Tuesday, with results to follow soon after.Polls in the state close at 20:00 local time on Tuesday, with results to follow soon after.
If Republicans hold on the seat, their majority in the US Senate will be extended to 53-47. If Republicans hold on to the seat, their US Senate majority would be extended to 53-47.