With the upcoming retirement of Sen. Kit Bond, Republicans across the state are wondering who will run to replace the Godfather of the Missouri GOP. Posted on 01/09/2009 12:23:17 PM PST by Bodhi1
With the upcoming retirement of Sen. Kit Bond, Republicans across the state are wondering who will run to replace the Godfather of the Missouri GOP.
My sources confirm that Congressman Roy Blunt is seriously considering a run for Bond’s seat.
In a press release on his website, Blunt says, “There is no doubt that if Senator Bond’s name was on the ballot in November of 2010 he would have won handily.”
The question is, can Roy Blunt win? The likely opponent for Blunt would be current Secretary of State Robin Carnahan. For those outside of Missouri, the Carnahan family has a long political history in the state and Robin would be a powerful candidate.
The Democrat strongholds in Missouri are Kansas City and St. Louis. Blunt, however, is a strong candidate in Springfield, and is the most likely Republican to beat Carnahan in 2010.
If Blunt finds he can carry Springfield, expect him to face off against the Democrats in 2010.
He didn't run for a second term because he could not have won the Republican Primary.
Thousands of Republican Missourians crossed over to vote in the Democrat primaries against then-governor Bob Holden in 2004.
It is an absolute certainty that thousands of Democrats would have acted in-kind in 2008.
Political PING?
Matt didn’t have the belly for another four years of living in a fishbowl and there was a good likelihood that Nixon would have clobbered him anyway. It wouldn’t hurt my feelings if both Blunts moved aside. Neither have been extraordinary leaders.
Is he a RINO?
Low volume ping list
FReepmail me to be on, or off, this list.
Again, I'd run if I could find the money.
Anyone got a couple of hundred thousand they don't need to get me started? ;^)
I don't know. He lost the Majority Leader race in 2006... I do not know if that is because he was trying to hold up the conservative brand or not...
Epic fail incompetent.
If he couldn't win the the gubernatorial primary in 2008 what makes you think he could win a senate primary in 2010.
No incumbent Missouri governor will ever win a second term ever again.
The precedent has been set.
Voters from the opposing party will cross over to vote against him in the primary.
How many Democrats do you suppose would be willing to cross over to vote against Palin in the 2012 presidential primary?
Barf. No establishment pubs need apply.
In that case, I should have it made. I haven't ever been a member of ANY party. ;^)
How about we get someone without a family political name in office? I am sick and tired of the successions of the heirarchy and political nepotism.
A new name would be fresh.
I had decided I wasn’t going to vote for Bond next election anyhow. Time for some new blood. He had his chance and wasn’t up to our expectations.
Go ahead and run. Plenty of time to raise money.
Then we need to lobby our legislature to close our primaries to registered party members only. That will cut out the cross over crap that hurt our people last election.
OH, ****!!!
Roy Blunt was a lousy whip in the House. There’s no reason to believe that he’d made a good Senator, regardless of his ACU ratings.
I can’t imagine Roy winning a primary if Steelman and/or Kinder runs. Blunt has virtually zero grassroots support.
I could imagine the campaign slogans right now.
Steelman: Vote for me cos I’m a hot babe like Sarah Palin.
Blunt: Steelman is a selfish maverick like McCain. Just like McCain, Steelman takes pleasure in bashing other Republicans for personal gain. Plus Steelman takes money from trial lawyers.
Robin Carnahan: God saved me from breast cancer so I can fight for the middle class. Remember the glory days of the 90s when we had world peace and record economic growth under my dad, Mel. Happy days will be here again if I am allowed to help Obama change America. Never again shall America be bushwhacked and suffer from Blunt trauma.
“Blunt has virtually zero grassroots support.”
And you know this how?
As it is I don’t care for Blunt because of his “dalliance” with a lobbyist. However if it was a choice of him or a Democrat, I’ll vote for Blunt.
I know this because I grew up in Springfield and I know the general sentiments. SW Mo is heavily Republican and people will vote for Blunt because he is a Republican and has been in office forever. That’s about it. He’s not an inspiring guy.
And yes, obviously I’ll vote for Blunt over ANY Dem, especially a Carnahan, but Blunt is weak. He divorced his wife and married a lobbyist, and the Blunt name isn’t too good in Missouri right now. We need new blood. Sarah Steelman would be a better candidate, mark my words.
I don’t give a care what he’s done with the little Blunt in his shorts.
He’s a very lousy leader that’s what I don’t like. And his son obviously didn’t fall far from the tree.
“Voters from the opposing party will cross over to vote against him in the primary. “
I think this is overblown. Did Republicans elect McClassless over what’ his face Holden?
Holden got in because of ACORN vote fraud and judges keeping St. Louis inner-city polling places open past the deadline. It was a nailbiter that Talent could have contested, but chose not to. By the time 2004 rolled around, Holden was so unpopular with his own party that McCaskill was able to take him down, and no I don’t think any Republicans voted in the Dem primary for McCaskill - if some did it was inconsequential.
Bottom line, Roy Blunt would be a terrible candidate for U.S. senate.
“Sarah Steelman would be a better candidate, mark my words.”
She would be my choice but I don’t think that’ll happen.
As for grassroots support for Blunt I disagree with your assessment.
As for inspiring, he’s rather mild in informal settings but he can make points in a stump speech.
Are you dense?
They crossed over to vote against Holden to get rid of him.
Then they voted for the Republican.
The fact that you even asked the question means that you are either as dumb as a mud fence or just like to hear yourself flap your gums.
No. Are you a j*g*ff with some bizarre attitude problem?
St. Louis Conservative in post 22 doesn't agree with your assessment so maybe you aren't infallible.
The fact that you even asked the question means that you are either as dumb as a mud fence or just like to hear yourself flap your gums.
Given this post I'm fairly certain I'm more intelligent than you Mr. Pissy. I'd never heard of a massive GOP crossover in that particular primary. I doubt it happened. And your claim that this would now by the norn for both parties crossing over in primaries and defeating Governors is slightly deranged.
Ah and it would have unwise to do so. Holden being unpopular was a much weaker GE opponent than McClassless who nearly won the GE. So if anything they should crossed over to support him.
That’s a great idea - and with both houses of the legislature in Republican hands, the bill might pass. (I don’t know if new Gov. Nixon would sign it, but I think it could pass.)
It’s official- Roy Blunt is running for the Senate. I’m not thrilled, as he was a lousy Majority Whip in the House. But I don’t see him losing the Republican primary. Those who tout Sarah Steelman need to know one thing- Steelman nearly won the 2008 primary for Governor in part because she polled a large majority in the Ozark-based 7th. Congressional district. She won’t do that against Blunt, who represents it now and has won elections there since being elected Greene County Clerk in 1972. While I agree that Steelman would be a much better Senator, I think she should run for state Auditor instead.
If Blunt is nominated, we can kiss this seat goodbye. He will not beat Robin Carnahan. I fully support Steelman.
I wouldn’t peg Blunt as favored in the primary by much if at all.
I would. He has a lot of name recognition, has a lot of money, and has the backing of the MO GOP establishment.
The only way Blunt wins is if the Dems completely self-immolate for 2010 getting every candidate painted as such, but under ordinary circumstances, I’ll say he loses by at least 5% or as much as 10% in the general against Robin Carnahan. We can’t take the risk.
The Dems won’t self-immolate. Robin Carnahan will be unopposed in all likelihood.
I was talking nationally in the general, not in the primary (as in a repeat of ‘94). She’s got to be praying Blunt is her opponent, because she can start measuring for the drapes in her DC office. That’ll be lovely. Missouri, a Republican state, with two moonbat rodent women Senators.
Looks as if Steele has his work cut out for him.
In your opinion do we have anyone at the present time that would make a great Republican House Whip ?
Tom McClintock (hell, he ought to be the Leader).
If Sarah Steelman were to run, she would have to poll much stronger in areas of the state where she lost. As mentioned, she won the 7th. Congressional district (currently represented by Blunt) by a wide margin in 2008.
I don’t see why primary voters would be crazing about Blunt.
Steelman as a former statewide official certainly shouldn’t be lacking in name ID.
No, he votes conservative.
But he’s a lousy milquetoast leader.
Word on the proverbial street is that a scandal was about to break loose on ole Matt involving an alleged affair with one of the top real estate moguls in the state, Patrick Murney.
Although I am typically one to dismiss such talk, his departure was just strange enough to lend some credence to the whispers...
I’m not going to validate that one way or another, because I have no clue about it, but if there’s anything damaging, it should come out before the primary for his father’s House seat. I do not want Junior coronated after his cut and run schtick from Jeff City.
“He didn’t run for a second term because he could not have won the Republican Primary.”
No. He wasn’t gonna have a serious primary challenger.
MO sources are mixed on whether there actually was a GOP cross over against Holden in the primary(I doubt it, look at the numbers). If they did they are fools because Holden was weak and Blunt would’ve had a much easier time against him than McCaskil who nearly beat him. Sounds like a lie invented by the Holden camp to explain away his loss.
I live here. I did it. I know other people who did.
Holden was despised.
It was extremely foolish if they did. They should have voted for the weaker Holden to be Blunt’s opponent.
We should have consulted with you first.
I apologize.
Hey don’t get pissy friend.
So you did it huh.
It’s not smart to help a rat who’s stronger for general election win the primary.
Whatever.
Like I said, I apologize for not consulting with you, friend.
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