This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46361369
The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Mississippi's ugly past casts long shadow on Senate election | Mississippi's ugly past casts long shadow on Senate election |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Votes are being counted in Mississippi in a racially charged Senate election that has dredged up the Deep South state's ugly past. | Votes are being counted in Mississippi in a racially charged Senate 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. |
| She was widely tipped to win in the staunchly Republican state. | She was widely tipped to win in the staunchly Republican state. |
| However, early results after polls closed suggested a tight race. | However, early results after polls closed suggested a tight race. |
| On Monday, several nooses were found at the Mississippi capitol in Jackson in an apparent protest against the tenor of the campaign. | 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. |
| This election became more competitive after a video emerged earlier this month of Ms Hyde-Smith - who is the incumbent Senator - telling a supporter: "If he invited me to a public hanging, I'd be on the front row." | This election became more competitive after a video emerged earlier this month of Ms Hyde-Smith - who is the incumbent Senator - telling a supporter: "If he invited me to a public hanging, I'd be on the front row." |
| The comment evoked the lynching of African Americans in a state whose past is rife with racial violence. | The 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 Democrat has himself come under scrutiny for his 2011 lobbying work in the Ivory Coast, whose former despot Laurent Gbagbo is on trial at the International Criminal Court. | The Democrat has himself come under scrutiny for his 2011 lobbying work in the Ivory Coast, whose former despot Laurent Gbagbo is on trial at the International Criminal Court. |
| Mr Espy was agriculture secretary under President Bill Clinton, but resigned under a cloud of corruption allegations, on which he was later acquitted. | Mr Espy was agriculture secretary under President Bill Clinton, but resigned under a cloud of corruption allegations, on which he was later acquitted. |
| Controversy fuels turnout | Controversy fuels turnout |
| By Chris Buckler, BBC News, Oxford, Mississippi | By Chris Buckler, BBC News, Oxford, Mississippi |
| "They're fired up." | "They're fired up." |
| That was the view of polling station staff in Oxford, Mississippi, where a long line of voters greeted them as they opened up this morning. | That was the view of polling station staff in Oxford, Mississippi, where a long line of voters greeted them as they opened up this morning. |
| Everyone here believes that Cindy Hyde-Smith's comments have helped today's turnout. | Everyone here believes that Cindy Hyde-Smith's comments have helped today's turnout. |
| And that's true on both sides. | And that's true on both sides. |
| In a state where racially motivated lynchings are still a source of shame, Democrats have expressed outrage that she would even joke about a "public hanging". | In a state where racially motivated lynchings are still a source of shame, Democrats have expressed outrage that she would even joke about a "public hanging". |
| Ms Hyde-Smith's team are trying to present the huge amount of media coverage about her comments as an attempt by Democrats to twist her words - and a cynical ploy to steal what should be a Republican safe seat. | Ms Hyde-Smith's team are trying to present the huge amount of media coverage about her comments as an attempt by Democrats to twist her words - and a cynical ploy to steal what should be a Republican safe seat. |
| They also point out that her Democratic opponent Mike Espy is himself no stranger to controversy. | They also point out that her Democratic opponent Mike Espy is himself no stranger to controversy. |
| The difference might simply be who is most "fired up". This run-off election is being held between Thanksgiving and Christmas in the wake of mid-term elections that attracted extraordinary interest. | The difference might simply be who is most "fired up". This run-off election is being held between Thanksgiving and Christmas in the wake of mid-term elections that attracted extraordinary interest. |
| So far, however, controversy is proving to be a very good antidote for voter fatigue. | So far, however, controversy is proving to be a very good antidote for voter fatigue. |
| Ms Hyde-Smith, meanwhile, 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." | Ms Hyde-Smith, meanwhile, 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 - who was the first ever US congresswoman from Mississippi - apparently encouraging voter suppression also emerged on Twitter. | A video of Ms Hyde-Smith - who was the first ever US congresswoman from Mississippi - 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 recent 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 recent 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". |
| 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 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? |
| 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 a lingering view 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. |
| Mr Espy would need to overwhelmingly win the black vote and a substantial number of white voters to unseat his Republican opponent. | Mr Espy would need to overwhelmingly win the black vote and a substantial number of white voters to unseat his Republican opponent. |
| Why is the election still unresolved? | Why is the election still unresolved? |
| After Republican Senator Thad Cochran resigned in April, a special election for Mississippi's US Senate seat was arranged. | After Republican Senator Thad Cochran resigned in April, a special election for Mississippi's US Senate seat was arranged. |
| 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 during the mid-term elections, both Ms Hyde-Smith and Mr Espy received about 41% of the vote. | On 6 November during the mid-term elections, both Ms Hyde-Smith and Mr Espy received about 41% of the vote. |
| Polls in the state closed at 19:00 local time on Tuesday (01:00 GMT Wednesday). | |
| If Republicans hold on to the seat, their US Senate majority would be extended to 53-47. | If Republicans hold on to the seat, their US Senate majority would be extended to 53-47. |