Mike Tierney joins David to discuss the firing of Mike Smith and the hiring of a new head coach. Mike Tierney is the former editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constution Sports Section. He also is a frequent writer for the New York Times.

Charlie Harper of Peach Pundit joins us to discuss politics from across the South.

Jeff discussed Southern politics and more

David Mark joins us to discuss politics from across the US

Catherine and David perform the audio autopsy of Election 2014

Catherine and David make their final predictions for Election 2014

Southern politics

The podcast episode, dated October 19, 2014, features hosts David McLaughlin and Catherine Smith, joined by guest Robert Hooks to discuss Southern politics, focusing primarily on the Mississippi Senate race and national political messaging.Mississippi Senate Race DramaThe discussion begins with the ongoing Republican primary runoff in Mississippi between incumbent Senator Thad Cochran and challenger Chris McDaniel, which, months later, was still caught up in a state Supreme Court case over allegations of election fraud. Robert Hooks notes that the political drama has caused some "burnout" among voters. Despite the incumbent's 40 years of service, polls show Cochran's support stagnant at 42-45%, well under the 50% mark.Hooks observes that the 180,000 voters who supported McDaniel, particularly younger, reform-minded Republicans, are unlikely to turn out for Cochran. Mississippi Democrats, led by candidate Travis Childers, are trying to appeal to these disenfranchised voters, urging them not to sit out the general election. The Democratic campaign's message is that voters "still have a voice" against Washington's "failed politics."Campaign Strategy and TechnologyThe hosts note a lack of effective campaigning or advertising from the Cochran camp, suggesting that national Republicans are prioritizing spending in tighter races like Louisiana and Kentucky, believing Mississippi will simply follow its typical voting pattern. Meanwhile, Mississippi Democrats are heavily focused on voter outreach and absentee balloting (early voting) for targeted groups like senior citizens. Hooks and Smith praise the use of modern technology like online voter files and cell-phone-based phone banking, which allows volunteers to efficiently target voters anywhere in the state, in contrast to older, more rudimentary methods.National Politics and MessagingThe conversation then moves to national politics:

• Kentucky Senate Race: The hosts criticize Democratic candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes for her repeated refusal to state whether she voted for President Obama. They argue this creates a harmful "self-inflicted wound," making her look indecisive and unprepared, especially since everyone assumes she voted for the Democratic president.
• Rand Paul and the African-American Vote: The hosts discuss Senator Rand Paul’s expressed goal of increasing the Republican share of the African-American vote significantly in his 2016 presidential bid. While they commend his willingness to address the issue, they are skeptical of his ambitious goal of attracting a third of the African-American vote, especially against a likely Democratic nominee like Hillary Clinton. Robert Hooks questions how Paul will reconcile his libertarian/anti-government message, including opposition to public education and military spending, with the interests of key African-American demographics.

Drew Pritt Co-hosts the Kudzu Vine to discuss Arkansas politics and more! Southern politics

Southern politics