Several elected area Democrats have joined others in the partystatewide in endorsing President Bush in his campaign forre-election.

The announcement came this week in a news conference at thestate Capitol in Jackson attended by Gov. Haley Barbour, chairmanof Mississippi’s Bush-Cheney ’04 state campaign.

No Lincoln County Democrats have announced they support Bush,but several Democrats in other part of southwest Mississippi havepledged their support to the incumbent over Sen. John Kerry,D-Mass.

“I’m a 100 percent supporter of President Bush,” Lawrence CountySheriff Joel Thames said Thursday. “I believe in his ideals, moralsand beliefs. I think he’s the one we need to stay with.”

Jeri Landry, circuit clerk of Jefferson Davis County, said shealso supports Bush.

“My intentions were to go (to the news conference), but we werein court and I wasn’t able to,” she said. “I actually ran on aDemocratic ticket, but I vote for the person I feel will do thebest job.”

Democrats Sue Shivers Worthy, Jefferson Davis County taxassessor/collector, and Alderwoman Sylvia Ward of Prentiss joinedLandry in their support of the Republican candidate.

Others in southwest Mississippi voicing their support of Bushinclude Sheriff Duane Dillon of Walthall County and City Clerk JudiMay of Mendenhall.

More than 40 “Democrats for Bush” attended the news conference.Among them were Southern District Transportation Commissioner WayneBrown, former U.S. Rep. Sonny Montgomery, Northern DistrictTransportation Commissioner Bill Minor and members of the stateLegislature.

In a news release, Montgomery credited Sen. Zell Miller, , asthe inspiration for the group that gathered at the Capitol.

“We all saw Zell Miller take a stand for President Bush lastmonth at the Republican Convention. Despite his politicalaffiliation, he realizes the stakes are high and that PresidentBush is the man for the job,” Montgomery said. “I’m proud of themen and women with me today who are willing to look beyondpolitical party and instead at qualifications and proven leadershipin this year’s presidential election.”

Barbour said the Nov. 2 election is important to the state andnation.

“It transcends political party, and that’s evident in the numberof Democrats willing to stand with me today and endorse PresidentBush,” he said. “Like me, they know that his values and beliefs arein line with those of the people of Mississippi.”