Roland Martin Says Democrats Need to Ask Poor White Voters in Mississippi: ‘What the Hell Do You Have to Lose!?’

Roland Martin appeared on MSNBC Friday with a message to Democrats in Mississippi: ask poor white voters what supporting Republicans has done for them.

The host of Roland Martin Unfiltered was on to discuss the Senate special election runoff in the deep red state between Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democratic former Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy.

“Democrats have got to stop being scared of white people in the southern states,” Martin said. “They have to be frank with white people.”

He continued: “Democrats always want to only want to focus on, ‘Well, if we could get some young voters and some progressive voters’ — No, you have to tell broke, white people: ‘You’re broke. And if you guys want to keep voting for your guns, go right ahead, but your health care is jacked up. Your education is jacked up. Your economics are jacked up.’ So, I really hope that Democrats get the message. They have to go into the South and go into these poor areas and not just talk to black voters, but talk frank to white voters and say, ‘Will you vote your economic interest?'”

Martin went on to argue that Espy can win in Mississippi if he gets high African American turnout — but MSNBC host Ali Velshi countered by asking if the Democrat could get enough white votes in the state to claim victory.

“Democrats have to be willing to go into rural Mississippi and literally look white, poor people in the eye and say, ‘Let me ask you a question. How has it been voting for Republicans in this state, how has it actually helped you get out of poverty?’ Answer the question,” Martin said.

“I dare say Democrats should go into Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, go into Louisiana and go into those states and look at broke white folks and say, ‘What are you going to do? You’re still broke, you still have bad education, you still have bad health care. What the hell do you have to lose!?'”

Watch above, via MSNBC.

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