By Staff
POLITICAL ENDORSEMENT Carol Tobias, left, political director of the National Right to Life Committee, and Republican Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck announce the organization's endorsement of Tuck and GOP gubernatorial candidate Haley Barbour. Tobias and Tuck spoke at a news conference Monday at Meridian Aviation. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
Sept. 9, 2003
Republican Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck and GOP gubernatorial candidate Haley Barbour won an endorsement Monday from the Washington-based National Right to Life Committee.
Carol Tobias, the committee's political director, said her organization usually focuses on the president.
The National Right to Life Committee is the nation's largest single-issue, pro-life organization, with an affiliate in each of the 50 states and more than 3,000 chapters nationwide.
The endorsement announcement came at a news conference in Meridian with Tuck and Tobias one in a series of campaign stops the two made across the state on Monday.
Tuck's campaign
Tuck, who is seeking a second term, meets Democrat Barbara Blackmon of Canton and Reform Party candidate Anna J. Reives of Hattiesburg in the Nov. 4 general election.
At stake is a position that serves as second-in-line to the governor and president of the 52-member Mississippi Senate. The job pays a base salary of $60,000 a year plus expenses.
Barbour, the former Republican National Committee chairman, meets incumbent Democratic Gov. Ronnie Musgrove and three third-party candidates in the Nov. 4 general election.
At stake in that race is the state's highest elected position a job that pays $122,160 a year.
Barbour was not at the Tuck news conference in Meridian, but accepted the endorsement while in Gulfport.
Important legislation
In Meridian, Tuck said during her term as lieutenant governor Mississippi has passed several pieces of pro-life legislation.
She said legislation included the "fetal homicide law" which recognized unborn victims of violent crimes, denied tax funding for abortions and created the Choose Life car tag.
Tobias praised Barbour and Tuck.