By: Jake Meek

Hoping to springboard his campaign with the support of Southern voters, 2008 United States presidential candidate George Bailey visited the Southern Miss campus earlier this week.

Bailey's trip to Hattiesburg looked to make an impression on the Mississippi community by spreading his vision for the United States. A republican candidate from New Mexico, Bailey took time to speak with the Southern community to express the fundamentals of his campaign, and assured the community a black candidate with ambition and the people's needs in mind can make a run at the nation's highest office.

"We're running a candidacy for all of America," Bailey said. "I came to initiate my campaign in the South."

One of Bailey's primary visions is for a racially and ethnically unified American society, with individual discussion standing as the tool for growth in this area. "It's time for black and white people to start working out their differences one-on-one," Bailey said.

Other candidates and political figures focusing on race as an issue have failed in their charge, Bailey believes. "Local people do not need Obama, Clinton, Sharpton or anyone else to come into a community for their own advantage when problems can be solved one on one," Bailey said. "As Americans, we can sit down and work on our issues."

As he begins his campaign, Bailey asserts that his vision for a unified America has existed at several points in the nation's history, particularly after a time of tragedy. "[Americans] have sense to come together in a crisis situation, I wonder why we wait to treat one another this way until another crisis comes," Bailey said.

Bailey began his visit on Monday with a tour of downtown Hattiesburg, including a short ceremony at the newly renovated train depot. There, Bailey was presented the Mayor's Pin, the Hattiesburg equivalent to the key to the city, by Hattiesburg Public Relations Director John Brown.

Bailey kept busy on Tuesday, speaking at several events not only to garner support for his campaign, but also to give an encouraging word to students. An alumnus of Phi Beta Sigma, Bailey spoke to the fraternity's Southern Miss chapter Tuesday morning. A veteran of the Marine Corps, Bailey then visited the George Hurst building to speak with soldiers, sharing his views on the war and his position on defense.

In the afternoon, Bailey met with the Council for Public Deliberation to discuss race related issues in Mississippi.

Sophomore fashion merchandizing major Noami Rogers of Brandon works for the event. "He had some very good ideas, as well as a very different and interesting viewpoint" Rogers said.

Before leaving for Biloxi to continue his campaign, Bailey spoke with Men of Excellence as a guest speaker for Eagle Summit. All of these speaking engagements intended to show Bailey as a man of many interests, whose traditional values would aid the Mississippi community.

Freshman Spanish major Marlin Muller, of Lake Worth, Fl. works for Bailey's campaign, and sees his visit as an important gesture for the nation.

"There's no better place to kick off a grassroots campaign in the South for a black candidate than this," Muller said. "Bailey intends to show the nation that Mississippi, a stereotypically racist state, will support a republican black candidate who holds their ideals in mind."

Bailey's campaign is set upon overturning stereotypical views of the Deep South. "In Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and other southern states, blacks and whites coexist far better than they do in the north," Muller said. "Dr. Bailey intends to show the nation this fact."

Rogers also felt Bailey's campaign would positively influence the South.

"He's addressing issues that directly affect southern states," she said. "He's bound to bring a positive response."

For the Southern community, Muller believes, the presidential election of 2008 is vital. "Our generation is picking up a country plagued with problems," said Muller. "Whether you agree with Dr. Bailey or not, it's important that college students research candidates and participate."