Barbour Griffith & Rogers is set to buy a controlling interest in itself back from Interpublic, which purchased the Washington, D.C.-based firm in 1999.

The move follows last year's election of Haley Barbour as Governor of Mississippi.

The former Republican National Committee chairman has put his stake in BG&R into a blind trust. He has said that he isn't sure whether he will return to BG&R after he leaves office.

Ed Rogers, vice chairman of BG&R and staffer in the Reagan and first Bush White House, told The Clarion-Ledger that management expects a buyback deal "within days not months."

He heads the firm with COO Lanny Griffith, who chaired the Bush/Cheney Entertainment Task Force which coordinated celebrations connected to the '01 inauguration of President Bush.

BG&R recorded $1.6M in '03 fees, according to figures compiled by Roll Call.

The firm lists Bristol-Myers Squibb, Grocery Manufacturers of America, Deloitte Consulting, Pfizer, Lorillard Tobacco and Southern Co. as clients on its website.