By JEREMY WELDON

U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde- Smith is scheduled to make a stop in Batesville today on her Scootin’ Round the Sip campaign tour to win the spe- cial election Nov. 6 called by Gov. Phil Bryant to fill the remainder of retired Sen.

Thad Cochran’s term.
Sen. Hyde-Smith current-

ly has the office, having been appointed by Gov. Bryant in the spring. Since then she has taken advantage of her short incumbency, locking in the support of the Republican Party, and getting a high profile endorsement from

President Donald Trump.
On the ballot with Sen. Hyde Smith is State Sen. Chris McDaniel, backed by the more conservative wing of the Republican Party, and two Democrats – former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy and Tobey Bernard

Bartee.

It is a non-partisan race and the two vote getters will advance to the runoff two weeks later if no candidate wins a majority. Espy, who has been gaining momentum in the polls and outraised all the other candidates last month, also campaigned in Batesville and Panola County

this week.
Espy said he has spent

extensive efforts in the field early in the race and will be running a heavy rotation of campaign spots on television the last few days before the election. Sen. Hyde-Smith has also stepped up her advertis- ing, and is expected to match

Espy ad-for-ad.
Sen. McDaniel is counting

on his strong ground support to be top finisher.

Sen. Hyde-Smith will be on the Downtown Square about 2:30 p.m. according to cam- paign flyers, and will meet voters at the city’s Memorial Park Gazebo.