HOUSTON - Former Eupora mayor Henry Ross was heading into the rhetorical home stretch of his campaign stump speech Tuesday night, when the clock-watcher called time.

"And one more thing," he said quickly to some 80 Republicans gathered to hear him, Angela McGlowan and Alan Nunnelee. "Let's impeach all Supreme Court justices who won't follow the Constitution."

The three Republican candidates are less than two weeks from the June 1 primary to determine which one will meet incumbent U.S. Rep. Travis Childers on the Nov. 2 general election ballot in the race for 1st District congressman. If none receives a majority in the primary, a runoff will be three weeks later.

Party faithful from Chickasaw and several nearby counties packed into the Houston Civic Center to hear each one's 10-minute remarks about why he or she would make the best nominee.

Nunnelee of Tupelo, a veteran state senator, went first and seemed to borrow a little of the patriotic historical, pro-freedoms speaking style often used by Ross.

"We are living in perilous times - our very freedoms are under attack," Nunnelee opened with. He blamed the current Congress and its Democratic members for so many problems today, and he promised to go to Washington to bolster conservative decision-making there.

Oxford native McGlowan, who began with prayer, gave her usually lively remarks and assailed both Democrats and Republicans for allowing the U.S. government to get out of control.

"God put this dream into my heart to represent you," said the former Fox News commentator. "You know I'm a fighter."

Ross gave a shortened version of his familiar speech, in which he elaborates on the erosion of America's three pillars - faith, family and freedom.

"Where was the Congress and what did they do to stop the erosion of freedom?" he asked the audience as he promised to fight for Constitutional amendments to define marriage as between a man and a woman and to limit Congressmen's terms to 12 years.

The night's big message, though, came from state GOP Chairman Brad White, who reminded party members that their lack of unity in 2008 helped elect Democrat Childers.

He criticized Childers' conservative politics at home and support for the national party in Washington.

White said any of the three GOP candidates "will be a step up" from Childers in the U.S. House.

Contact Patsy R. Brumfield at (662) 678-1596 or patsy.brumfield@djournal.com.