GOP favorite to face Childers gets primary opponent

Republicans face another primary in Rep. Travis Childers's (D-Miss.) district. The question now is how serious it gets.

After a 2008 special election in which the GOP primary hurt the party's chances against Childers, a Republican is signing up to oppose state Sen. Alan Nunnelee (R) in this year's primary.

Former Eupora Mayor Henry Ross is from the southern portion of the district, rather than the Memphis suburbs, so the GOP doesn't appear to have another Tupelo-vs.-Memphis battle on its hands (Nunnelee is from the Tupelo area). But Ross is taking the tack of a conservative outsider candidate.

Money will be important if Ross is to make himself viable. Nunnelee has proven a solid fundraiser, bringing in $220,000 in the third quarter.