Yet Mr. Presley has gained decent momentum — and with it, the attention of Democrats outside Mississippi.
He has raised more than $11 million since January, far outpacing Mr. Reeves, and has used the money to flood television and radio stations with campaign advertisements.
In the race for governor four years ago, Jim Hood, then the state attorney general and the last Democrat elected to statewide office, was seen as the most viable candidate the party had fielded in Mississippi in more than a decade.
Yet he lost to Mr. Reeves by about five percentage points.
Still, Mr. Presley sensed an opening.
Persons:
Presley, Reeves, Jim Hood
Organizations:
Mississippi, Southern Democrats, Democratic, Democrat
Locations:
Southern, Mississippi