Robert Foster, a Republican candidate for Mississippi governor says he isn’t comfortable having a female journalist shadow his campaign unless she brings along a male colleague. Larrison Campbell from Mississippi Today writes:
Bill Waller, a former state supreme court chief justice, and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves agreed to ride alongs with Mississippi Today reporter Adam Ganucheau. Rep. Robert Foster, R-Hernando — declined, however, because I am a woman.
In two phone calls this week, Colton Robison, Foster’s campaign director, said a male colleague would need to accompany this reporter on an upcoming 15-hour campaign trip because they believed the optics of the candidate with a woman, even a working reporter, could be used in a smear campaign to insinuate an extramarital affair.
“The only reason you think that people will think I’m having an (improper) relationship with your candidate is because I am a woman,” this reporter said.
Foster said Wednesday that he won’t be alone with any woman other than his wife, even while working or campaigning, because of the possible public perception that he was doing something to hurt his marriage. He said being alone with a man is no problem.
CNN’s John Berman talked to both Campbell and Foster. And Foster said, “in my truck, we go by my rules.” Watch the interview above.
