GOP eyes Mississippi's special election

WASHINGTON, May 12 (UPI) -- House Republicans are keeping a close eye on Tuesday's special election in Mississippi to see if the GOP loses another seat this year to the Democrats.

A loss in the race in the 1st District would mark the third seat the GOP has lost this year in what was traditionally a solidly Republican district, The New York Times reported Monday.

The newspaper said a win by Democrat Travis Childers in the state's northeast district could dampen Republicans' hopes about their prospects in November, while a victory by Republican Greg Davis would be welcomed among the GOP.

Republicans also face uncertainty given that Rep. Vito Fossella, R-N.Y., might decide to run for re-election even amid scandals involving his drunken-driving arrest and disclosures of an out-of-wedlock child

with a woman in suburban Virginia, the newspaper said.