PHILADELPHIA — The annual two days of political speakings at the Neshoba County Fair have come and gone with no statewide official announcing plans to seek another office in 2011. Two officials, Attorney General Jim Hood and Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney, re-affirmed past announcements that they will seek re-election. Agriculture Commissioner Lester Spell also reiterated his plans to retire. While making no announcement, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann gave the most comprehensive speech and sounded like a man eyeing a run for governor. He voiced support for early childhood education, reforming state government and reforming the state’s certificate of needs process Health care providers must obtain a CON to build major projects. The speech doesn’t mean Hosemann is running for governor. But it must mean he is thinking about it.

JACKSON —Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann may get the most attention at this year’s version of the Neshoba County Fair’s annual political speakings.

The speakings, watched closely by observers of the state’s political scene, will occur later this month.

All of the statewide elected officials are scheduled to speak. And all, with the exception of Hosemann, have made it known one way or another what they intend to do in 2011, which is the next round of statewide elections.

Some believe Hosemann will challenge Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. Others believe he will seek re-election.

I know only two things about the issue.

If Hosemann makes an announcement about his intentions, he will be the top news-maker from the fair unless Gov. Haley Barbour comes out and says he is running for president.

And secondly, Hosemann speaks right before Bryant.

JACKSON — A Barbour from Mississippi is being touted for a national office, but this time it is not Gov. Haley Barbour for president.

This time, it is Haley Barbour’s nephew, Henry Barbour, who is being mentioned as a possible interim replacement for Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele. Steele has come under fire from members of his own party for various comments — the latest being a negative comment about the Afghanistan War  effort.

In recent days,  Katon Dawson, the head of the South Carolina GOP, who was the runner-up in 2008 when Steele won the RNC  post, suggested Henry as a possible replacement for the controversial Steele.

Henry Barbour has a long, successful history in behind-the-scenes politics. He managed his uncle’s 2003 campaign for governor when he defeated incumbent Ronnie Musgrove. He has worked on other campaigns, including that of George W. Bush in his two bids for president. He also worked with Haley when he chaired the RNC in the 1990s and was a key fund-raiser for the group.

Henry Barbour, who is currently a lobbyist  based in Jackson, is believed to have many of his uncle’s political skills.

Haley Barbour has long been a well established national Republican figure. By taking over last year as char of the Republican Governors Association, Haley Barbour has garnered even more credibility with Republicans on a national basis. Most insiders say it is not likely that Steele will step down from his RNC chair post. But if he did, and Henry Barbour assumed the spot, it would give his uncle even more credibility should he opt to run for president as many national political observers believe he might.

 

 

 

 

JACKSON — Gov. Haley Barbour deserves credit for his hard-work and ingenuity in luring the Toyota plant to Blue Springs in Northeast Mississippi — just as his predecessor does for attracting Nissan to central Mississippi.

Both were major coups for the Mississippi economy.

I was always confident that Toyota would open in Northeast Mississippi despite the delay caused by the severe economic downturn. But for awhile I questioned whether the plant would actually open on Barbour’s watch.

It was fitting that Toyota announced this week it would begin manufacturing cars at Blue Springs in the fall of 2011 — before Barbour leaves office. Barbour’s tenure will not end until January 2012.

It is worth remembering that Nissan opened in 2003 — during Musgrove’s final year as governor. He was defeated later that year by Barbour.