By By William F. West / community editor
Oct. 4, 2002
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott said Thursday he plans to refrain from campaigning for U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering.
Lott, who spoke to Mississippi reporters by phone, said he believes voters in the 3rd Congressional District will choose Pickering in the Nov. 5 election based on merit.
Pickering, 39, a Republican from Laurel, and U.S. Rep. Ronnie Shows, 55, a Democrat from Bassfield, are the top contenders for the redrawn 3rd District redrawn. The election is set for Nov. 5.
Before Pickering was elected to Congress in 1996, he served as an aide to Lott, a fellow Republican. Lott said he almost considers Pickering to be a second son and that he is a credit to Mississippi.
Lott said if his appearance would help, he would make one. But he said he does not plan to visit the district because he would rather see Pickering be the focus of the campaign.
Pickering campaign manager Henry Barbour said the congressman has no plans to call on Lott for help.
Barbour said that Lott is correct, that people in Lauderdale County know where Pickering stands on the issues and that they know what he has accomplished for Meridian and East Mississippi.