JACKSON – Former Democratic Gov. Ronnie Musgrove has a double-digit lead over Republican U.S. Rep. Roger Wicker of Tupelo in a possible Senate race to replace Trent Lott, according to a poll conducted during the first week of December.
Musgrove, who served one term as governor before being defeated by Haley Barbour in 2003, leads Wicker 48-34 percent, according to a poll conducted by the national polling group Greenberg, Quinlan, Rosner Research. The group polls primarily for Democrats.
The Daily Journal has obtained parts of the poll.
The poll results differ greatly from those released earlier this week by the Daily Kos, a liberal blog. That poll, done by Research 2000, showed Wicker defeating Musgrove. But those pollsters admitted the Daily Kos sample did not include African-Americans at the percentage they usually vote in statewide elections.
The Greenberg poll sample included 33 percent black voters, which still was 1 percent less than in the latest general election.
Wicker and U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering are rumored possible appointees by Gov. Haley Barbour to the post left vacant by Lott. Treasurer Tate Reeves and Gulfport Mayor Brent Warr also have been mentioned as possible choices.
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