By By William F. West / community editor
July 26, 2002
Even though U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran is facing minor opposition in his November bid for a fifth straight term, he continues to campaign and raise money.
The Mississippi Republican will attend a luncheon on Aug. 29. Meridian attorney Rick Barry announced the event at the Thursday meeting of the East Mississippi Business Development Corp.; details are incomplete.
On the ballot against Cochran this year are Reform Party candidate Shawn O'Hara of Hattiesburg and Democratic Party nominee Steven Turney of Bassfield.
Cochran, 64, of Jackson, first won election to Congress from southwest Mississippi in 1972.
In 1978, he won a hotly contested election to replace retiring U.S. Sen. James O. "Big Jim" Eastland. Cochran defeated former Gov. William Winter in 1984 and has won re-election since.