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Wiseman reacted to news from Republican state Sen. Merle Flowers of DeSoto County that he won't be a candidate for the seat held by conservative Democrat Travis Childers of Booneville.
"It's possible somebody else made the decision for him," Wiseman said, speculating that the GOP wants to avoid another primary blood-letting like the 2008 contest between Southaven Mayor Greg Davis and former Tupelo Mayor Glenn McCullough.
Davis won that matchup and then was soundly defeated by Childers.
Other Republicans mentioned as possible candidates include state Sen. Alan Nunnelee of Tupelo, who said in April he is considering a run for the seat; political commentator Angela McGlowan; millionaire businessman Sam Haskell; and former NFL star Wesley Walls.
Former Eupora Mayor Harry Ross told GOP women in Columbus recently he's running.
Flowers announced his decision on the Internet social network Facebook, saying, "It's very important that Republicans take back that seat."
Roger Wicker of Tupelo held the seat for more than a decade until he was appointed and then elected to the U.S. Senate.
Nunnelee did not respond to a Journal call for comment. He's been on a "listening tour" throughout the district and in Jackson working on the state budget as chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee.
Roll Call, a Washington, D.C., publication, on Thursday hailed Nunnelee as "the clear favorite of party leaders among the announced candidates."
Democrats insist Childers, in his first two-year term, will be hard to paint as a partisan.
"He has been ranked as one of the most independent members of Congress," said Jessica Santillo, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Flowers did not endorse Nunnelee.
"I don't know who all the other candidates are who may or not get into this race," he said.
Contact Patsy R. Brumfield at (662) 678-1596 or patsy.brumfield@djournal.com.
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