Who does Phil Bryant appoint to replace Cochran?

[Jeppe]

I think Trump is going to endorse Hyde-Smith and go full-in for her. The Republican’s Senate majority is already tenuous enough without a bombthrower like Chris McDaniel.

[7,052,770]

If it's somehow Hyde-Smith vs. McDaniel in the runoff, which is extremely unlikely unless the votes split just so, she wins the runoff by 20 or more points.

McDaniel's only hope is to knock the appointee down to 3rd somehow and face off against a Democrat in a completely nationalized race. And even then he probably still loses to a good Democratic candidate like Presley.

[NewYorkExpress]

If it's somehow Hyde-Smith vs. McDaniel in the runoff, which is extremely unlikely unless the votes split just so, she wins the runoff by 20 or more points.

McDaniel's only hope is to knock the appointee down to 3rd somehow and face off against a Democrat in a completely nationalized race. And even then he probably still loses to a good Democratic candidate like Presley.

I think McDaniel beats any Democrat not named Jim Hood...and even then it would be close.

[smoltchanov]

With "instinctive Republican" voting prevalent among vast majority of Mississippi's whites, McDaniel will have at least equal chances against Hood or Presley, and will relatively easily defeat all other possible Democratic candidates. Hyde-Smith (former Democrat itself)  or Hosemann will be favored even against these two..

[Cactus Jack]

Hyde-Smith makes sense from the standpoint of keeping the seat for a long time, which means a lot in Mississippi. I judge McDaniel to be just as likely to beat either of them, so if I were Bryant, I'd just go for the younger option and hope for the best.

[The Arizonan]

What is McDaniel's deal? Is he some kind of power-hungry douchebag?

[Greedo punched first]

What is McDaniel's deal? Is he some kind of power-hungry douchebag?

He is.