Posted on 05/28/2007 3:42:06 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued
Missouri’s 9th Congressional District was in Democratic hands for 76 years until a dynamic Republican prosecutor named Kenny Hulshof won the seat in 1996.
If Hulshof resigns to take the helm at the University of Missouri, Democrats would suddenly have a chance to win back the region long known as “Little Dixie.”
But the district has become even more conservative since the mid-1990s as it has expanded south of Interstate 70 to include areas like Hermann and Washington — areas represented by Republicans in the state Legislature.
“I think it would be an uphill challenge for Democrats,” said David Webber, associate professor of political science at the University of Missouri-Columbia. “I think the fundamentals of the 9th District are more Republican now than in 1996.”
Hulshof, a rising Republican star in a safe seat, confirmed this week that he is a candidate to become president of the University of Missouri system.
“It is one of the very few jobs for which I would consider leaving Congress,” Hulshof said in a statement.
For now, party officials are being cautious in their public statements, not wanting to speculate too much about the possibility of an open congressional seat until the university or Hulshof makes a formal announcement.
But Democrats, who gained a key U.S. Senate seat in Missouri last year when Claire McCaskill defeated incumbent Republican Jim Talent, are intrigued by the idea of an unexpected seat suddenly in play.
(Excerpt) Read more at columbiamissourian.com ...
There could be a special election this year. The race would lean Republican, but not assuredly so.
Also, it’s important that the Republican candidate be pro-border security, pro-gun, pro-life, and pro-national sovereignty.
I’m not familiar with our potential farm team in this district, but we do need to put up a strong candidate. Well, at least the obnoxious Harold Volkmer won’t be making a comeback (too old).
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