According to published reports, the Mississippi Democratic Party may not re-certify State Rep. Jeff Smith and Insurance Commissioner George Dale.

From the C-L:

Smith said some members of the party are targeting politicians who sometimes side with Republicans on issues.

Greenville attorney Willie Griffin, an executive committee member, said he would not comment on specific candidates.

However, he said candidates for office should support their party in elections and actions.

“If you are a Republican, run as a Republican,” Griffin said. “If you are a Democrat, run as a Democrat.

Certification concerns pushed veteran Gulf Coast lawmaker Tommy Gollott over to the GOP side a few weeks ago and probably played a part (albeit a secondary one) in Lt. Governor Amy Tuck's conversion to the GOP.

Smith would be a virtual lock to win in Columbus, while Dale could be vulnerable in the primary but still the Democrats' best chance of winning the general election. In a state party that has gone from sheer dominance to second fiddle in a little over a decade, maybe Willie Griffin and the Executive Committee should be more concerned with victory for the Party than unwavering loyalty to the Party.

But then again, if Dale and Smith were to change parties after the election, not certifying them would be a wise preemptive strike. But then, I thought only NeoCons supported preemption.