While the eyes of the country are on PA today, the New York Times‘ Adam Nossiter calls attention to the special election to fill the seat in Mississippi’s first congressional district–the Elvis district in the northeast part of the state centered on Tupelo. There, the Democratic candidate, Travis Childers, seems to be giving his GOP opponent, Greg Davis, a run for his money, based on the new-style social conservatism/economic populism. This was pioneered thereabouts by John Arthur Eaves in his gubernatorial run against Haley Barbour last fall. Across the big river, of course, there was precedent-setting Gov. Mike Huckabee. Though Childers, a Baptist, doesn’t seem to be pushing religion hard, he knows how to integrate “values” with little-guy economics, as in:

“Now, I have to be honest. I’m a Mississippi Democrat, not a Washington, DC Democrat. I’ll be on the side of the family struggling, the child that needs health care and the teenager who’s only hope is a college degree. I’m pro-life and pro-gun. I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. And I will take a tough stand to stop illegal immigration into our country….To change our country wee don’t have to change our core values. But, if we don’t change the direction of our country, our core values will be compromised.”