Trent Lott finally broke the suspense Tuesday and announced his plans to run for re-election to a fourth term in the U.S. Senate.

It&8217;s a decision members of both parties in this state &8212; albeit some most likely in private &8212; are applauding.

Lott has a powerful position in Washington, even after losing his Senate majority post.

While he demured Tuesday night when asked if he might try to regain that leadership role, he has every chance of climbing back on that pedestal thanks to changing political winds.

But even without the leadership post, Lott has the opportunity to bring attention &8212; and money &8212; to the state, especially the coast.

And that&8217;s why voters of all political stripes need to be grateful that he is running for re-election, and that he will likely win.

We hope that Lott &8212; who lost his own house on the coast to Hurricane Katrina &8212; will make his state his first priority in Washington for the next six years.

We don&8217;t need him embroiled in partisan battles or political squabbling; we need him working, day in and day out, to bring attention to Mississippi and its needs &8212; and to fulfill those needs. And rebuilding the coast is just the beginning.