MS state senator set to run against Childers

Republicans look to have their candidate against Rep. Travis Childers (D-Miss.) in state Sen. Alan Nunnelee.

State Sen. Merle Flowers (R) told the Desoto Times Tribune on Thursday that he won’t run for the seat because Nunnelee will, and Flowers doesn’t want to force a divisive primary (like the one that allowed Childers to win the seat in a 2008 special election):

“For the peace and purity of the Republican party, I will not be a candidate for Congress,” (Flowers) said. “It’s important that a Republican win this race.”

His decision means that Republicans could avoid a divisive primary race in their attempts to oust Democratic Rep. Travis Childers. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Alan Nunnelee, R-Tupelo, has also been eyeing the position. Childers won the 1st District seat after defeating Southaven Mayor Greg Davis.

“My good friend Sen. Alan Nunnelee will be a candidate,” Flowers said.

Nunnelee is conducting “listening tours” in north Mississippi, including a stop in DeSoto County, but has not officially announced whether he will run for Congress.

Flowers said he will continue to focus his attention on fully funding DeSoto County schools, obtaining a hospital in Olive Branch and making sure “every man, woman and child is counted in the 2010 census so DeSoto County will have more representation.”

This is good news for the GOP. Southaven Mayor Greg Davis and former Tupelo Mayor Glenn McCullough duked it out in the primary in early 2008, which allowed Childers to steal a heavily conservative district.

Childers defeated Davis 54-46 in March and went on to beat him again in the general election, 54-44. But the district went 62 percent for Republican presidential nominee John McCain, making it one of the most conservative to go for a Democratic congressman.

It remains a top GOP target.