Kiss the ring...

New Mississippi senator meets with White House officials

By ALEX ISENSTADT

Mississippi Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith, who was appointed to the seat longtime GOP Sen. Thad Cochran is vacating over objections from senior Republicans, met with top White House officials on Wednesday.

The meeting, which according to two Republicans familiar with the visit included members of the White House political affairs office, came one week after the administration told Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant that President Donald Trump had no current plans to endorse or campaign for her.

The White House, along with other senior party officials, has expressed concern that Hyde-Smith, who had been serving as the state's agriculture commissioner, could lose the special election being held later this year to fill out the remainder of Cochran’s term, which expires in 2020.

Administration officials, who felt that the governor was rushing the pick, told Bryant that Hyde-Smith's history as a Democrat could hobble her in the contest. She switched to the Republican Party in 2010 while serving in the state Senate. Bryant went ahead and picked her for the post anyway.

Since last week's announcement, Trump has been silent about the Hyde-Smith pick.

National Republicans are trying to block state Sen. Chris McDaniel, an outspoken conservative and tea party favorite, from winning the seat. McDaniel waged an unsuccessful 2014 primary bid against Cochran.

Hyde-Smith is spending part of the week in Washington meeting with top Republicans.

The meeting was first reported by The Washington Post.