Are we about to win in Mississippi?

Too early to say.  That the answer is not "no" at this point is very encouraging.

The election to replace Roger Wicker in MS-01 was held tonight.  The two main contenders are Democrat Travis Childers and Republican Greg Davis.  Look below the fold to see the results.

 2008 SPECIAL ELECTION & RUNOFFS
22 April 2008
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE 1ST DISTRICT
Special election for 1st District House seat (unexpired term)

Special Election
   
Precincts Reporting: 99%

Candidate Votes Percentage
TRAVIS W. CHILDERS 32,376 49%
GREG DAVIS   30,923 47%
STEVE HOLLAND      772 1%  
GLENN McCULLOUGH      948 1%  
WALLY PANG      718 1%  
JOHN WAGES      396 1%  
OTHERS               30       0%

What a great result, right?  If a plurality was enough, Travis Childers would be the new Representative to the first district of Mississippi.  The law, however, mandates that a candidate must crack 50% of the vote, and Childers fell a little shy of that mark.

Childers and Davis will face off in a runoff on May 13.  Expect the DCCC to throw more money into the race.

This is great news.  If a Democrat can capture MS-01, how many other districts held by Republicans today may be won in November?  

That thought probably will cost John Boehner and Tom Cole some sleep tonight.

UPDATE:  Comments and analysis at the Swing State Project.  

•  tips

  Meet Travis Childers, who is helping to make Mississippi a little bluer.

  by Nuisance Industry on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 08:05:31 PM PDT

•  As long as

  it  doesn't cost Bonehead any of his time in the tanning bed.

  by anastasia p on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 08:06:04 PM PDT

•  Needs 50% to avoid a runoff n/t

  by Shane Hensinger on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 08:11:23 PM PDT

  •  there will be a runoff May 13

    Expect the DCCC to given Childers some help now that he's shown he's viable.

    by Nuisance Industry on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 08:13:02 PM PDT

    •  They've been giving him help n/t

      by AUBoy2007 on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 08:14:29 PM PDT

      •  and will give more.

        From James L. at SSP:

        As a sign of just how seriously national Republicans are taking this race, the NRCC has spent $292,000 on media and mail against Childers, while the DCCC has spent $141,000 against Davis.  I get the sense that Democrats are operating in a wait-and-see mode here, and if Childers performs well enough to force this race into a runoff on May 13th, we just might see the DCCC amplify their efforts here.

        Given the success the DCCC continues to have raising money, I imagine the will increase their support over the next three weeks having seen tonight's result.

        by Nuisance Industry on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 08:22:34 PM PDT

    •  Ugh - yeah as a Dem I'm excited

      but as a progressive I'm appalled. Childers is really as bad as a Republican but he's better than one - I guess.

      by Shane Hensinger on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 08:14:36 PM PDT

      •  he'd be yet another vote for Pelosi

        ...and if a Democrat can win this district, it bodes well for the party's ability to win in about 40 more competitive districts across the nation.  This contest shouldn't have been close, no matter how much Childers's views align with those of the district.

        I hold no illusions that Childers will join the Congressional Progressive Caucus.  But unless he votes against Pelosi he's an improvement on Wicker.

        by Nuisance Industry on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 08:19:44 PM PDT

      •  Childers is an economic populist

        ...who favors withdrawing from Iraq.

        He's DEFINITELY better than a Republican.

        by HellofaSandwich on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 09:01:53 PM PDT

    •  Me thinks you correct...

      The Republicans are going to be losing some sleep tonight and for many nights to come.  If we can beat them in Mississippi...

      by swampus on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 08:16:22 PM PDT

•  All your Mississippi are belong to us.

  by swampus on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 08:12:12 PM PDT

•  320 votes

  ...thats all we needed to swing and we would have won outright.  Still, this bodes well for May 13.

  by TomK002 on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 08:14:04 PM PDT

  •  Holland and McCullough both asked to withdraw.

    And to have their names removed from the ballot. As it was denied, there go your 320 votes.

    by missLotus on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 08:19:05 PM PDT

    •  Its all about turnout

      If our people turn out for the run off, this thing is ours.

      by TomK002 on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 08:35:57 PM PDT

•  Can't avoid the runoff

  Final results
  49% Childers
  46% Davis

  by JeremiahTheMessiah on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 08:14:23 PM PDT

•  What parties were the other candidates?

  Holland, McCollugh, Pang, and Wages; where will there 4% combined total likely go in a runoff?

  by Paul G on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 08:16:30 PM PDT

  •  D,R,I,G

    In that order.  

    R - Republican
    D,G,I - Democrat

    Probably the general themes.  

    by JeremiahTheMessiah on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 08:17:30 PM PDT

•  Obama is about to take Miss. in November

  I thought that was what this diary was about.

  We have our work cut out for us, but this House race portends well for Democrats in Mississipppi.

  by FishOutofWater on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 08:17:45 PM PDT

  •  I won't bet the house on Obama winning MS, but...

    ...he will raise turnout at the very least, which may have implications for Ronnie Musgrove's race against Sen. Wicker.  I like making the GOP compete in Mississippi.

    by Nuisance Industry on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 08:26:23 PM PDT

    •  I'd bet the house

      that McCain wins MS.

      by IhateBush on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 08:37:43 PM PDT

•  The DCCC should go in for $400,000

  I'm serious.  They can afford it, and how many other congressional seats can we win with that kind of money?  There's going to be a handful this November that suck up 2-3 million each.  We can't let low-hanging fruit like this go by.

  by Skaje on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 08:57:50 PM PDT