An unlikely group helped Sen. Thad Cochran capture the Republican nomination in a hotly contested primary runoff , but the strategy that propelled him to victory is unlikely to make it into the GOP playbook . In the final weeks of the election , Cochran 's campaign and allies turned to African-Americans and Democrats to carry the incumbent senator past his tea party challenger . Turnout shot up in counties with the highest African-American populations , but Cochran 's success with turning out an unlikely demographic will be hard to replicate elsewhere , several Republican strategists said . CNN political commentator and Republican strategist Kevin Madden emphasized that each election should be treated as an independent race with its own strategy . `` I think it would be hard to say this is a sign of something that could be replicated in congressional districts or in races around the country , '' Madden , a former adviser to 2012 GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney , said . A unique scenario played out in Mississippi : Because of the state 's open primary system , Democrats were able to help elect the Republican nominee , who is all but certain to win the general election in the solidly Republican state . The contentious race between an incumbent with a pipeline to federal funds and a more conservative challenger with tea party backing jolted blacks into action -- 88 % of whom voted for the Democratic nominee in the state 's last Senate race in 2012 , according to CNN exit polls . Lifelong Democrats mobilized for Cochran . States in which the same scenario could play out `` are few and far between , '' GOP strategist and CNN political commentator Alex Castellanos said . `` Until we find such a rare state , it will do a Republican no good to promise more federal spending and benefits to minority voters . '' Bringing home the pork . Throughout the campaign , Cochran consistently pointed out his position on the Senate Appropriations Committee and the multimillion-dollar projects he has funded in Mississippi , some of which bear his name , like the University of Southern Mississippi 's Thad Cochran Center . Jackson , Mississippi , also boasts the Jackson Medical Mall Thad Cochran Center -- a formerly run-down mall that an African-American doctor converted into a medical center with Cochran 's support , said D'Andra Orey , political science professor at Jackson State University . `` He 's done some things that are not black-specific , but things that blacks benefit from , '' Orey said . Many credited Cochran 's success at the ballot box to his ability to funnel federal dollars into his state -- the poorest in the country . Henry Barbour , who steered the pro-Cochran super PAC Mississippi Conservatives , said that Cochran 's long-standing relationships with the African-American community and ability to meet `` the needs of all the Mississippians '' helped Cochran win . `` It only worked because they had confidence in Sen. Cochran , whether it was a Republican voter we were talking to , an independent voter we were talking to , or even a Democratic voter , '' Barbour acknowledged . But still , Barbour said he does not `` think there 's any question '' that the strategy can be applied on a national level . `` We 've got to genuinely go into the minority communities and communicate our message and explain to them why it 's good for them , '' Barbour said . Barbour called the election an impressive feat given the state 's violent history of race relations . Turnout spiked in Hinds County , which is 70 % African-American and saw about 7,000 more voters for Cochran in the runoff than in the primary . While boasting a similar share of Cochran supporters , neighboring Madison County -- which is 38 % African-American -- delivered much smaller gains for Cochran in the runoff . George Flaggs Jr. , the mayor of Vicksburg , backed Cochran and encouraged other Democrats to support him at the polls , largely because his city 's economy is anchored in government-funded projects . `` ( Sen. Cochran ) is a person that demonstrates leadership in terms of helping with jobs and job creation , '' Flaggs said . `` I 'm a black Democrat , but I try to be responsive to the needs of the city and the state . '' He added that Mississippi would be unable to compete for federal funds with states like New York or California without Cochran 's seniority in the Senate . Barbour said he was `` damned proud '' to ask African-Americans and Democrats for their support . `` One of the highlights of the runoff was working with African-Americans in a shared interest in our state , '' Barbour said . `` This is how you grow the party . '' Conservative activists slam Cochran for courting Democrats . Is the African-American vote up for grabs ? ConservativeBlackChick.com 's Crystal Wright said the Mississippi race showed that neither party should take the black vote for granted . `` We do n't go out and earn the black vote , '' Wright said of the GOP . `` The only time the Republican Party is serious about going after the black vote is -- it 's like the vote of last resort . Blacks have become the vote of last resort and we need to say no more . '' Republicans could actually make inroads with African-Americans in the rural and suburban communities of the South , said Ravi K. Perry , a political science professor at Mississippi State University . Perry , who has written extensively about race in politics , said Cochran 's outreach to blacks is `` obviously a winning strategy '' and that the runoff showed that there is interest in the African-American community to have an impact on the political process . `` It 's not going to be a strategy that you 're going to throw away , '' Perry said . He added that many African-Americans are socially conservative and may find Republican candidates appealing , particularly if they can bring home federal dollars for the agriculture industry , which relies on subsidies . `` Democrats should not rest on their laurels and assume that the African-American vote is theirs and the GOP should not assume that it is out of their reach , '' Perry said . Democratic strategist and CNN political commentator Donna Brazile dispelled the idea that Democrats take the African-American vote for granted and said that Democrats are working to recruit and turn out more every election cycle . `` The only legitimate criticism ... is that we wait until the last minute to encourage African-Americans to vote , '' Brazile said . `` But when it comes to encouraging African-Americans to run for office , we 're at the table . '' But Brazile said the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is making an `` aggressive effort '' to recruit and register African-Americans and other minorities in key states this cycle . DSCC National Press Secretary Justin Barasky said the group is already spending to raise turnout in battleground states to near-2012 levels and will be `` making an unprecedented investment '' to keep the Senate in Democratic hands . Registering and turning out African-Americans will be a key part of this strategy , particularly in Georgia , South Carolina and Louisiana , Barasky said . Forming a more inclusive party . Danny Vargas , former chairman of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly , was wary to draw any broader conclusions from the unique Mississippi runoff , but said the race is a reminder the GOP needs to cast a wider net . `` Nationally , if we ever hope to win back the White House , we need to have an approach that 's inclusive of every segment of society , '' Vargas , who is also president of VARCom Solutions , said . `` The poor of our country are not the problem , they 're the ones most in need of our solutions . '' Vargas suggested the GOP should show how its market-oriented solutions can empower all types of communities . `` You just need to show up . You need to be willing to go to Hispanic bodegas , black churches or mosques , '' he said . Beyond African-Americans , Republicans will also need to draw Hispanic voters to remain a viable party as that population is projected to triple by 2050 . John Bruce , chair of the University of Mississippi 's political science department , called the runoff an `` exceptional '' case and said no one should expect any significant shifts in racial partisanship . But Cochran 's strategy of courting the African-American vote proved successful -- whether because of his record of funding projects in Mississippi or the fear of being represented by someone like McDaniel . `` Anytime something works in politics , someone else will try to copy it , '' Bruce said . McDaniel says 'hundreds ' of irregularities found in Mississippi race . Mississippi primary spending surge pushes advertisers off the air .
Runoff turnout shot up in counties with the highest African-American populations . `` This is how you grow the party , '' head of a pro-Cochran super PAC said . Several GOP strategists said Cochran 's coalition was unique to Mississippi . Democrats targeting minority communities hoping to increase midterm turnout .