With even once-safe Southern seats in play this year, incumbent Republicans need to get a little creative. Take this add for Roger Wicker, who was appointed to the Senate to fill out Trent Lott's term. Wicker's opponent is a former Mississippi governor named Ronnie Musgrove, who is about as populist as one has to be to have a "D" by one's name and still get elected in Mississippi (he's actually on record as being "anti-abortion rights"). The fact that none of the groups mentioned in this ad have actually donated to the Democratic candidate doesn't keep Wicker from suggesting that Musgrove is backed by a bunch of babykillers and homos. Desperate times indeed. [TPM]