Pinkins campaigns in DeSoto County
Photo: U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Ty Pinkins inside at the First Joint Annual Conference of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church’s Fourth Episcopal District in Southaven Tuesday. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
July 17 – The campaign for the U.S. Senate came to a church meeting in Southaven Tuesday when Democratic candidate Ty Pinkins made an appearance at the Landers Center.
Pinkins, who is running against incumbent Republican Sen. Roger Wicker in the November general election spoke at the First Joint Annual Conference of the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church’s Fourth Episcopal District. Church gatherings have been among the many locations he has stopped at in his run to unseat the incumbent Wicker, who has been in Washington since being appointed by Gov. Haley Barbour in 2007.
It was part of a day for Pinkins that started at his residence in Vicksburg and a day that had stops in the Mississippi Delta, including Clarksdale before ending in Southaven.
It was one of Pinkins’ first campaign stops in DeSoto County since becoming the Democratic nominee in January. Pinkins ran for Secretary of State last year against Michael Watson when Shuwaski Young dropped out of the race because of health reasons.
Economy, health care and education remain top of mind in his campaign.
“We need to help continue to improve the economy here, making sure that our children have access to quality health care, and making sure that our children have access to a quality education,” Pinkins said. “Building on all the great success that local leaders have already implemented here in this county.”
While Republicans were on the verge of nominating Donald Trump as their presidential nominee this week, Democrats remained headed toward nominating President Joe Biden to again be their standard bearer in November. At the same time, a number of Democrats have started to call for another choice, given Biden’s performance in a recent debate between him and Trump.
Pinkins is adamantly remaining at the President’s side.
“He’s our Democratic nominee, millions of Democrats voted for him in March to be our nominee,” Pinkins said. “”He is 81 years old, he’s older and we’re all going to get to that point where we may not remember things as clearly as we normally remember things. But here’s what I do know. We have one candidate that has a good heart and means well, and makes smart decisions for every American. We have another candidate that makes decisions only for himself as a selfish person and it is an easy decision for me.”
A potential debate with Wicker has been floated by Pinkins, saying a debate should take place during the upcoming Neshoba County Fair, July 26-Aug. 2. But any meeting between the pair is apparently not in the near future, Pinkins said.
“We sent him a registered mail about a week and a half ago,” he said. “No response from him but not surprised. We’ll be waiting whenever he’s ready to debate. We’ll be ready to debate particularly at the Neshoba County Fair.”
He added the Neshoba fair, where political candidates and government leaders have traditionally “stumped” for voter support, has a history of hosting debates between Senate and gubernatorial candidates.
“If he’ll (Wicker) be there, I’ll be there.” Pinkins said. “Everything is on the line, women’s health care, jobs, education, house, it’s all on the line. A debate is extremely important.”
