(16 Sep 2008) A debate at the Mississippi College School of Law on Friday Oct. 3 will bring U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and his Democratic rival Ronnie Musgrove to the downtown Jackson campus.

WLBT-TV 3 news anchor Maggie Wade will serve as the debate moderator, said Jim Rosenblatt, the MC law dean.

The 60-minute debate will begin at 7 p.m. Audience members will be split among Wicker and Musgrove supporters and members of the MC law community.

The debate at the MC law school auditorium comes one month before voters go to the polls in the statewide race Nov. 4.

Wicker was appointed to his Senate seat by Gov. Haley Barbour on Dec. 31, 2007 to temporarily succeed former U.S. Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., who is now a Washington-based lobbyist.

The Tupelo Republican represented North Mississippi as the state’s First District Congressman for a dozen years before joining the U.S. Senate. He and his wife, the former Gayle Long, a Mississippi College graduate and former MC trustee, have three children. Sen. Wicker is a graduate of the University of Mississippi and the Ole Miss Law School.

Musgrove is a former Mississippi governor and former lieutenant governor. An Ole Miss graduate who practices law in Ridgeland, he and Wicker served together in the Mississippi Senate. They were former Jackson roommates during their days serving at the state Capitol.

Musgrove served as governor from 2000 to 2004. Barbour defeated the Democratic governor in his bid for re-election in November 2003.

The chance for spectators to see Wicker and Musgrove square off should easily pack the 250-seat MCSOL auditorium and attract thousands of TV viewers across Mississippi.

“We are looking forward to having both candidates here. It is a great opportunity for our students and our school,” said Phillip McIntosh, the MC associate law dean.

“It should be a fascinating debate,” said Matt Steffey, MC law professor. The race appears to be close right now, he said.

“I expect Musgrove-Wicker to be closer” than the tight presidential race, Steffey said. In a close race, every little bit matters, he added.

Watch the Wicker/Musgrove Senatorial debate held at MCSOL