Jackson, MS — Lucien Smith, Chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party, released the following statement on Attorney General Jim Hood’s decision to enter Mississippi’s gubernatorial race:

“The Governor isn’t the chief prosecutor; he’s the chief policymaker. Next year’s election will be about what sort of policy Mississippians want from their government. They can continue Republican policies that have resulted in record low unemployment, protected the unborn, protected our second amendment rights, and expanded educational opportunity just to name a few. Or they can choose to vote for the party of Chuck Schumer and Barack Obama and bring higher taxes, more regulation, less opportunity, and less freedom. That is the choice in next year’s election, and we look forward to the discussion.”