President Trump is reportedly unhappy with Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant’s choice of Cindy Hyde-Smith to replace retiring US Senator Thad Cochran.
Hyde-Smith is a former Democrat who was the state’s Ag Commissioner before yesterday’s appointment.
White House officials say President Trump will not endorse or campaign for Hyde-Smith.
According to the Clarion Ledger:
“State Agriculture Commissioner Cindy Hyde-Smith in April will become the first woman to represent Mississippi in the U.S. Senate, Gov. Phil Bryant announced at an event in her hometown of Brookhaven on Wednesday.
Numerous state GOP leaders voiced support, but her appointment is already drawing concern from other in-state Republicans and the White House over whether the former Democratic lawmaker has conservative bona fides…
Sources close to the governor said Wednesday that Bryant has spoken only to a “low-level political adviser” in the White House who expressed concern about Hyde-Smith’s appointment and not to Trump directly.
This fits with a Politico story Wednesday, citing two White House aides who said Trump administration officials told Bryant by phone Tuesday that her history as a Democrat worried them. The Politico story also said White House officials said President Trump would neither campaign for nor endorse her.
The sources close to the governor, however, said Bryant feels confident he will be able to secure Trump’s support and endorsement for Hyde-Smith once he has a chance to speak directly to the president, whom he considers a friend and ally.”
