Sen. Cory Booker campaigns for Mike Espy in Hattiesburg

HATTIESBURG, MS (WDAM) - Democratic Sen. Cory Booker, of New Jersey, was in Hattiesburg on the University of Southern Mississippi campus Monday to campaign for U.S. Senate candidate Mike Espy.

The campaign stop comes the day before a debate between Espy and U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-MS. The debate will air live on WDAM-ABC from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will also be streaming on WDAM.com.

Espy and Hyde-Smith will face off in a runoff election Nov. 27 to decide who will serve the rest of retired Sen. Thad Cochran’s term. Gov. Phil Bryant appoint Hyde-Smith to fill the seat in April until a special election could be held in November.

“We are Americans. Our country hangs in the balance right now. The fulcrum point is this election in Mississippi,” Booker told the crowd.

During Booker’s visit to Hattiesburg, he talked about Espy’s platform and the importance for Mississippians to get out and vote during the runoff election.

“I hurt when I see there is so much common ground, but we don’t find it enough," Booker said. "Mike is a guy who has shown his ability to bring Americans together in his past jobs and he has represented this state before in congress. He brought a lot of great benefits to this state.”

Booker also spoke about student debt, job opportunities and other key issues that matter to students in Mississippi.

“I’ve always loved this state and I love Mike Espy, and I think he’s going to do what we need done in the senate, which is bring people together to get things done for the people,” Booker said.

Espy was not present for the rally, but Booker was introduced by Espy’s daughter.

On Monday, Nov. 26, President Donald Trump will be in Biloxi to campaign for Hyde-Smith.

You can watch Booker’s full speech below:

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