This is an email I got from the Dem Senatorial Committee:

Dear Elizabeth M. ,

Just 18 days into 2008, and we already have the first great news of the year.

In Mississippi, Republican Governor Haley Barbour has been trying to circumvent the state's constitution and delay the special election to replace retired Sen. Trent Lott until November. Earlier this week, the state courts shot down this plan and ordered a special election on or before March 19. The case is being appealed to the state Supreme Court, so the situation is still very fluid.

Why do Haley Barbour and Trent Lott want to delay this election? Because they're worried they're going to lose.

Barbour's hand-picked Republican successor to this seat, Senator-select Roger Wicker, is virtually unknown outside of his former congressional district. The Republicans want to keep him in his special appointment for as long as possible so he can vote with Mitch McConnell and his roadblock agenda.

After all, the latest poll from Greenberg, Quinlan, Rosner Research shows, that if the election were held today, former Democratic Governor Ronnie Musgrove would beat Wicker 48 percent to 34 percent. Former Democratic Congressman Ronnie Shows has also filed to run for this seat.

Make no mistake. We can run and win in red states. Senator Jon Tester and Senator Jim Webb proved it two years ago in Montana and Virginia. Whether this election is held in March or in November, there's no reason that Mississippi can't be next on the list.

To learn more about the race in Mississippi, please check out our website.

Sincerely,

J.B. Poersch