Anonymous wrote:And, you all would be the first to believe a false allegation thrown at him by his Democratic competitor had he traveled alone with this woman.

Anonymous wrote:He sounds like a peach.

The Foster campaign’s sudden uneasiness with this reporter covering his campaign comes despite the fact I broke the story of his becoming the the first Republican to announce a bid for governor in December. Later that month, this reporter also broke a story about Republican Party operative offering him money to run for a different office. Since his announcement, this reporter has also interviewed Foster on numerous occasions in the halls of the Capitol, over the phone and at events.

Foster, considered an underdog for the Republican nomination, is running to the right of his opponents to appeal to tea-party conservatives. He is known for his incendiary social media commentary, including outspoken support of the state flag, which features a Confederate battle emblem.

“Anyone who votes (Democratic) in 18 is either ignorant or evil. There is no excuse for supporting killing babies or open borders. If that offends U, I’ll pray for U but I won’t apologize,” he wrote on Twitter last December.

Anonymous wrote:Frankly, I don't blame him a bit. All it takes is an allegation.
He didn't refuse her access. He told her that a male colleague would need to be present. Nothing at all wrong with that.

In this #MeToo era, one just cannot be too careful. Good for him.

Anonymous wrote:And, you all would be the first to believe a false allegation thrown at him by his Democratic competitor had he traveled alone with this woman.

Anonymous wrote:This is why the "Pence Rule" is harmful and discriminatory.

It's not like women like to make frivolous claims and undergo the media and public scrutiny.

Anonymous wrote:

This is why the "Pence Rule" is harmful and discriminatory.

Exactly.

There’s no way a woman could be this guy’s lieutenant governor, or his chief of staff, or his press secretary, and on and on and on.

This is why the "Pence Rule" is harmful and discriminatory.

The Foster campaign’s sudden uneasiness with this reporter covering his campaign comes despite the fact I broke the story of his becoming the the first Republican to announce a bid for governor in December. Later that month, this reporter also broke a story about Republican Party operative offering him money to run for a different office. Since his announcement, this reporter has also interviewed Foster on numerous occasions in the halls of the Capitol, over the phone and at events.

Foster, considered an underdog for the Republican nomination, is running to the right of his opponents to appeal to tea-party conservatives. He is known for his incendiary social media commentary, including outspoken support of the state flag, which features a Confederate battle emblem.

“Anyone who votes (Democratic) in 18 is either ignorant or evil. There is no excuse for supporting killing babies or open borders. If that offends U, I’ll pray for U but I won’t apologize,” he wrote on Twitter last December.

Anonymous wrote:This is why the "Pence Rule" is harmful and discriminatory.

It's not like women like to make frivolous claims and undergo the media and public scrutiny.

In recent weeks, in an attempt to better inform readers about candidates in the upcoming Republican gubernatorial primary, Mississippi Today has asked to shadow each contender seeking the GOP nomination.

Bill Waller, a former state supreme court chief justice, and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves agreed to ride alongs with Mississippi Today reporter Adam Ganucheau.

The other candidate — state Rep. Robert Foster, R-Hernando — declined, however, because I am a woman.

In two phone calls this week, Colton Robison, Foster’s campaign director, said a male colleague would need to accompany this reporter on an upcoming 15-hour campaign trip because they believed the optics of the candidate with a woman, even a working reporter, could be used in a smear campaign to insinuate an extramarital affair.

Before our decision to run, my wife and I made a commitment to follow the “Billy Graham Rule”, which is to avoid any situation that may evoke suspicion or compromise of our marriage. I am sorry Ms. Campbell doesn’t share these views, but my decision was out of respect of my wife.