Southern whites started voting ... Democratic?

MANIFESTO

Needless to say, I ordinarily don't pay a lot of attention to congressional elections in Mississippi, but Travis Childers' convincing victory there yesterday is nothing short of astonishing.

Mississippi's First Congressional District is in the fairly rural northeastern part of the state (one of its counties is aptly named after John C. Calhoun), a place where in the last few years one would have to look long and hard for a Democrat. It's been among the reddest of the red districts in the last two national elections, but the Democrat Childers won the seat with a 54-46 blowout.

One hopes this is a portent of things to come. Something certainly appears to be up, and it doesn't seem to be Republicans' chances.

UPDATE — The New York Times features this situation as does Josh Marshall.