Dennis' Race

Since this blog is about internet politics, I am sure you were expecting something on the fight in Congress over the budget or something on the budget fights in that northern tier of states from Wisconsin to New Jersey or even something about the unrest in the Islamic world.

Today Dave Dennis is up. Sorry to disappoint, maybe that stuff will come a little later, especially if I, as a federal employee, go on furlough in a week. Anyway, we have a pretty interesting political season heating up right here at home in Mississippi. And since I have been following Mississippi politics for about 35 years and I know some of the players, I am a little more interested here.

Dave Dennis is running for governor in the Republican Primary. And Dave has some work to do. He has never run for office, although he has been involved in politics. He faces a formidable opponent in Phil Bryant, the current lieutenant governor, a two-term lieutenant governor and former state audior. Phil is well-known in the state and has the most money so far, and name recognition and money are the mother's milk of politics.

 So far, Dave seems to have hit most of the state's media outlets, and he has had gatherings. He has a presence on the web with Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and a website. But I'm not sure how much he has connected with the public, although he appears to by trying and the campaigns have on been going for two months.

On Twitter, he has a page, DaveDennisGov, and his own hashtag, #DD4G. But at least so far, he doesn't seem to be having a dialog with people. Maybe that's not his fault. Certainly he posts all
of the links to interviews and stories in the state media. He seems to be trying to make connections, asking people to take a look at his website or Facebook page. He also announces his stops, so supporters are able to show up. And you can find links to his website and Facebook pages.

He has a pretty active Facebook site (DaveDennis Governor). It has video postings, links to clips at newspapers.

The website http://davedennisforgovernor.com/ is very busy -- appearances, news, clips, latest tweets, links to his Facebook, Twitter, a place to contribute, YouTube.  http://www.youtube.com/user/DaveDennisGov  Interestingly, a YouTube search for Dave Dennis turns up more posts than does the Dave Dennis You Tube page.

Every stop has a button to contribute and to be involved. I couldn't find a blog from Dave.

I was really looking to see Dave dialog, but the dialog may not have had a chance to build since the campaign is so young. We may want to stay tuned to see how things develop.

In the interest to transparency: I have known Dave for over 20 years. I don't necessarily agree with his politics, but he is a very good guy. He has been a very successful contractor on the Coast. He is gentle and kind and softspoken, and he is the kind of person you like immediately, probably because he makes you feel important,  like he is interested in what you have to say. He is a gentleman. How well all that will serve him in politics remains to be seen. I'm -- sadly -- coming to the conclusion that we are out of the "gentlemen" period of politics.

I don't know the level of Dave's involvement in politics. He has been appointed to various boards by politicans. I first met him when he was a member of the Harrison County Development Commission. He also has served on the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of New Orleans.