Roger Wicker in 2008 MS Senate Debate

On Principles & Values: OpEd: Ties Musgrove to Obama to demonstrate liberal record

Wicker’s ability to tie the liberal record of Obama to Musgrove that was the deciding difference in the debate. By bringing up the issue of Judicial appointments as they might affect the Second Amendment as well as abortion and traditional marriage, Wicker demonstrated the continuing difficulty of any Democrat in a statewide election, regardless of how conservative they might be.

On Government Reform: Responded to FEC inquiry about mixed House & Senate funds

Musgrove charged that Wicker violated campaign-finance law by combining funds from two separate 2008 election accounts and therefore exceeded the limit on individual contributions from some individuals under federal law. Musgrove said Wicker transferred $550,000 from his 2008 House of Representatives election account to his Senate election fund.

Wicker’s staff contends they’ve responded to an FEC inquiry saying the money is from a previous election cycle, and not from Wicker’s 2008 House bid, which had already begun when he was chosen to replace Trent Lott. But Musgrove’s staff contends Wicker “didn’t have adequate funding in his House account prior to the 2008 cycle to transfer the funds.”

Musgrove said in a news release, “This type of Washington politics needs to change. Rather than wait for the FEC to fine him, Wicker should return the illegal contributions.”