After several weeks of legal wrangling between Gov. HaleyBarbour and Attorney General Jim Hood, the state Supreme Court lastweek came down on Barbour’s side in a dispute involving the datefor a special election to replace retired U.S. Sen. Trent Lott.

The election, the court said, will be on the Nov. 4 date set byBarbour. Republican Sen. Roger Wicker, who was appointed byBarbour; former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove and former U.S. Rep. RonnieShows will be the candidates.

If for no other reason than economics, the court made the rightdecision.

While state lawmakers may want to revisit some ambiguities instate law regarding special election scheduling, having a specialelection on the same day as regularly scheduled federal electionsjust makes good financial sense. Having an election within 90 daysof Lott’s retirement, as Hood had sought, would have cost countiesthousands of dollars in unnecessary expenses.

With election date issues resolved, candidates can nowconcentrate on letting voters know why they would be the bestsuccessor to the popular Lott.