Nuke's

But will he have time to overtake Establishment candidate Charlie Ross?

from the Clarion Ledger …

Jim Nix hadn’t heard of Republican candidate Gregg Harper before the race for the 3rd Congressional District cranked up in January.

But in a small Mississippi town such as Meadville, where the honor system is still used to pay for a weekly newspaper, word of mouth is a powerful way to score votes.

“Here it’s about who you can trust and who you can’t trust,” said Nix, 73, a resident of the town of about 500. “I’ve been knowing some people a long time who know Gregg. They told me what a great guy he is.”

Despite what some called a weakness in initial name recognition, Harper’s “Faith Campaign,” as supporters have nicknamed it, seems to be appealing to folks like Nix.

And among Mississippi’s Republican elite – such as Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant, former Sen. Trent Lott and others – Harper has built up credit he can cash in on by working on many of their campaigns.

Still, it is unclear whether Harper, 51, has persuaded enough voters to overtake former state Sen. Charlie Ross.

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Hometown: Pearl

Age: 51

Education: Graduate from
Mississippi College and University of Mississippi School of Law

Occupation: Prosecuting attorney for the cities of Brandon and Richland and private attorney

Family: Married to the former Sidney Hancock of Jackson; two children, Livingston, 18, and Maggie, 16

Hobbies-interests: Spending time with family, participating in church activities.

Previously — MS 3rd: Gregg Harper for Congress 

Filed under: conservatism, Election 2008, Mississippi, The South Tagged: | 3rd district, charlie ross, conservative candidate, GOP, gregg harper, Mississippi, phil bryant, sidney hancock harper