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Santorum, Palin support challenger in Miss. race

By WTOP Staff

PHILIP ELLIOTT
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former presidential contender Rick Santorum and vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin on Thursday began star turns in ads backing the Mississippi state lawmaker challenging longtime Republican Sen. Thad Cochran in next week’s Senate primary.

Santorum and Palin were the latest conservative darlings to back Chris McDaniel, whose challenge to Cochran is poised to be one of the few potential success stories for the tea party this election year. Outside groups have poured millions into the race, which illustrates the split within the GOP between rank-and-file activists and establishment-minded operatives and donors.

“I know what it takes to stand up and fight for conservative principles in Washington,” Santorum says in one 30-second television ad that the independent Citizens United Political Victory Fund is bankrolling. “Chris McDaniel is a principled, conservative leader who will raise Mississippi’s voice and vote your values in the Senate.”

Santorum, who served in the Senate with Cochran, did not mention his former colleague in the ad or in a statement announcing his endorsement released Thursday through McDaniel’s campaign.

Palin, a former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate, was scheduled to campaign with McDaniel on Friday. She says in a 60-second radio ad that McDaniel is “running for the Senate to shake up the way things work up there.”

“Mississippians have a chance to send a message to Washington on June 3,” says Palin. “Chris McDaniel is the type of guy who will fight for us. He’ll fight for our values.”

McDaniel’s cash-strapped campaign is paying for the ad featuring Palin. His pre-election campaign finance report showed him with almost $238,000 on hand as of May 14 and carrying $100,000 in debts. He has spent $531,000 since April 1.

Cochran’s campaign has spent more than $3 million to fend off the challenge from McDaniel and his deep-pocketed allies. Of that, Cochran has spent $1.6 million since April 1 and has $681,000 in the bank.

But much of the money in this race is coming from outside groups.

The anti-tax Club for Growth has now spent more than $2.4 million on ads against Cochran. The grassroots FreedomWorks, the anti-establishment Senate Conservatives Fund and a raft of tea party-aligned groups also have rallied behind McDaniel. Several candidates they backed in other states fizzled or failed, but McDaniel’s campaign could give them a shot at redemption if he prevails on Tuesday.

Strategists in both parties expect the winner of the Republican primary to be elected in November’s general election.

Cochran’s allies are trying to help the 76-year-old senator to win a seventh term. Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour is backing Cochran, his nephew Henry Barbour is running the pro-Cochran super PAC Mississippi Conservatives, and Henry’s brother Austin Barbour is a senior adviser to Cochran’s campaign.

Another political scion of Mississippi, former Sen. Trent Lott, lent his backing to Cochran in a 60-second radio ad from Mississippi Conservatives.

“Thad’s up for re-election next Tuesday, and I’m proud to support him,” Lott says in the ad. “I know that Thad loves Mississippi, and every time we’ve needed him and called on him, he’s been there.”

And the group also is paying for yet another television ad calling McDaniel a “personal injury trial lawyer” who routinely missed votes in the state Senate.

And in a separate radio ad that began on Thursday, the group continues its criticism of McDaniel.

“So who is Chris McDaniel really? He’s a personal injury lawyer who will say and do anything to win. A state senator who doesn’t show up for work. A politician who doesn’t tell the truth,” the narrator tells voters.

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Follow Philip Elliott on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/philip_elliott

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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