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Posted on 08/07/2012 5:58:21 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper
Missouri voters head to the polls Tuesday to choose between a crowded field of candidates in the state’s GOP Senate primary, the winner of which will face off against Democratic incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill in November.
(Excerpt) Read more at politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com ...
I think Brunner will do better than we expect. Steeleman is to connected to certain interests for some — not true to her claims. Aiken is too strident in appearances. They are both overdone IMHO.
She finally gets hers.
People can't wait to vote against Obamugabe in November. They are chomping at the bit.
So, who’s the TP favored candidate and how do the polls look?
Last poll I saw was from PPP on Monday and had the race Brunner 35, Akin 30, Steelman 25.... The poll today is the one that counts.
I want to see the gorgeous Sarah Steeleman up against the craggy McCaskill
Tea Party, like most places when there are multiple good options, is split. Palin likes Steelman.
I think all three are good. Brunner is a good option as a non-politician, Akin has been a reliable conservative in the House but nothing exciting, Steelman likes the headlines a bit too much for my taste and she is solidly establishment (rich political family) but she is good overall as well.
Tea Party Express endorsed Steelman long ago...as have Congressman Lee of Utah, Susan B. Anthony List, Maggie’s List, etal.
Tea Party Express is a national group that may or may not be in tune with the grassroots tea party members.
SBA List endorses pro-life women. Maggie's List endorses fiscal conservative women.
Mike Lee is a Senator.
As a MO resident, I would happily vote for any of the three in November.
I think Steelman is seen as the “establishment” candidate with close ties to Senator (and former Congressman) Roy Blunt. She also fought hard for Billy Long in the 2010 Congressional race against (IMO) the true conservative Jack Goodman. This is one of the few instances where I disagree with Sarah Palin.
Akin, while conservative, just can’t seem to generate much excitement. Also, it’s very interesting that Claire McCaskill is essentially running favorable ads for Akin. In all appearances she is manipulating the GOP race in the hopes of being able to run against Akin. Recent polling backs up that she does best in a November matchup against Akin. This is one of the many instances where I disagree with Mike Huckabee.
The local radio station was asking people to call in this morning and give their $0.02 on who they were voting for and why. Overwhelmingly people were picking Brunner. Almost to a person, they couldn’t specifically pinpoint why Brunner and NOT Steelman or Akin. But most seemed to believe, like I do, that he has the upper hand when it comes to all Fiscal/Economic matters. His business background probably lends to this.
Other than that, I get the general sense that Brunner just seems more bold and confident than the other two. He has come from nowhere, with seemingly no political connections, to capture the attention of the MO electorate. He didn’t want or need endorsements from established political operatives.
Just my take.
Steelman also endorsed by 50 plus conservative Missouri Representatives. Missouri Right to Life. SHE-PAC. She is a Board Member of Club for Growth.
She has LONG been a supporter of Right to Work legislation. Contrary to the bogus CofC ad.
She has long been a strong supporter of RKBA. She favors major tax reform as well.
You posted your comment in response to a discussion of who the tea party supported. I pointed out that your response didn't follow from the previous discussion since you didn't indicate who the Tea Party - local Missouri group endorsements and individual conservatives in aggregate - supported.
I believe tea party support is split enough that none of the three could really claim to be THE tea party candidate - do you agree?
July 16 issue of Maryland Heights Patch did a survey of 50 establishment Republicans. Party leaders, officials, activists, and Republican cmte. people. 51% supported Akin. 45% supported Brunner. And NONE, ZERO supported Steelman.
No, I said the Tea Party Express endorsed Steelman long ago. And they did. The rallies I went to sure seemed “local.”
Huckabee also endorsed David Dewhurst who lost last week in the Texas RunOff to Ted Cruz.
To be fair, it's Steelman's husband's family that has the great establishment credentials - her husband was Missouri House GOP leader, his father was state party chairman. Sarah has rubbed some people the wrong way, sometimes probably a good thing, sometimes maybe unnecessarily.
And I replied that they are a national group and speak for themselves, not for the tea party. Yes, they hold local rallies, which is great and helpful, but that doesn't mean they speak for local conservatives.
I don't think conservatives can go wrong in this primary, though I have a modest preference for Brunner.
And the other groups do?
You mean groups like the Chamber of Commerce, which ran the bizarre attack ads against Steelman? No, of course they don't speak for grassroots conservatives.
Local conservative groups I'd be inclined to listen to closely.
John Brunner has significant Missouri political establishment support. Miriam Stonebraker (sp?) and John Hancock are both BIG supporters (and donors).
Appearances are not always as they seem.
Everyone is a "conservative" nowadays...
Steelman irked me in ‘08 when she lost the Governor race primary and refused to endorse the winner until just before the election.
However, RCP’s polls had Steelman beating McCaskill by the widest margin, plus she got Palin’s endorsement, so I voted for Steelman.
I saw that ad - it definitely made Akin sound good to me. Who is Claire trying to scare?
I pay lots of attention to the folk that give money to various candidates. If I know a party or cause that I'd not consider conservative and see lots of people donating to it or them, then I know what the agenda is all about.
Not one TEA Party type in the people Herzog is donating to. Maybe wrong, but I'm betting he doesn't think Steelman is a true "rogue."
I think we have a fairly conservative Party in the state in general. The legislature took conservative moves over the last decade that have protected the State. Nixon has profited by just laying low and going along.
Steeleman has acted as though she is against everyone that has been in the party previously. Even my wife is leary about the trial lawyer connections. I think her independence has been for differentiation alone and she has no allies amongst hard working conservative republican legislators. Aiken is a purist and comes across cold and ideologue. Brunner is more in line with what will appeal to the generally conservative Republican electorate of the state.
I think Brunner will get it with about 52%.
Steelman is good and has butted heads with the State GOP. Which is a good thing IMO.
I love her contract with Missouri statement.
Sarah’s Contract with Missouri
http://www.sarahsteelman.com/pages/sarahs-contract-with-missouri
As a Washington outsider with real experience, Sarah believes you can’t change the direction of the country until you change Congress. She has written a “Contract with Missouri”, her pledge to Missourians about her priorities as a U.S. Senator. Sarah commits to sponsoring or cosponsoring bills that will do the following:
Repeal Obamacare and its massive job killing taxes
Vote against raising the national debt limit
Oppose all and any new job killing taxes
Enact a moratorium on any new federal regulations; require a comprehensive review of all existing regulations and work to repeal unnecessary and burdensome regulations
Reform the tax code through a flat tax to create fairer taxes
Guarantee 2nd Amendment Rights to law abiding citizens
Protect the life of the unborn and end abortion
Amend the Constitution requiring Congress to pass a real balanced budget, and cap on the size of government
Eliminate taxpayer-funded Congressional pensions and perks
Suspend salaries of members of Congress until they pass a budget
Amend the Constitution enacting term limits on Congress and unelected federal judges
Vote for legislation banning all earmarks and fight any attempts to repeal or reinstitute earmarks
Akin’s best TV ad was paid for by Claire McCackle...
I haven’t seen a good explanation for the money Steelman took from the trial lawyers. Other than the fact it happened while she was a relative political novice 12 years ago?
I’m not disputing that fact that she is a “Washington” outsider. But it is the common view of us here in MO that she is definitely a “Political” INSIDER. I certainly have only known her to be a Politician for my complete adult life. And, she has very publicly tied herself to those who are lifelong “Washington” insiders...
Her father is a prominent lawyer, so I'm guessing he shook the money tree for her.
When I first saw the TV ad, it was very apparent something fishy was going on. I heard the radio ad this morning and it blew me away. Claire McCaskill’s radio ad can be heard here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYYBGa3o8Xs&feature=youtu.be
All that many could think of about Claire’s ad for Atkins was that they were trying to choose the weakest candidate to run against. Pretty bizarre.
She the one who kept proposing bills to do away with the NBC requirement for POTUS. She’s also the one agree that NBC meant TWO CITIZEN PARENTS on SR-511. She, along with Obama and Hilary, signed their names to it twice - in committee and on the floor.
Geez. Texas excedeed the 650,000 voter turnout esimates for the runoff by 500,000 or so. Bob Croker in Tenn recieve more votes in Shelby County (AKA Memphis) than the dems combine. GA was through the roof voting down the transporation bond. and now reports of long lines in Missiour........
But there will be some poll out today witha +13 Dems with Obama up 6. Has to be true right?
It will be a close election , that’s for sure! Voting brisk in rural Ozarks, but not massive turnout, yet, anyway. Then again, I vote early...
IMO, Claire believes Todd would be easiest for her to beat based on primary polls taken between Akin, Brunner, and Steelman. All three beat McCaskill, with Todd having the smallest edge. What Claire forgets, however, is that the majority of Republican primary voters will support whichever person wins today - giving that person a CLEAR majority against McCaskill.
I hope Todd Akin wins, but will support any of them against Claire McCaskill.
Her husband, David, is also a trial lawyer.
Akin is a fine man. Unfortunately, he’s been in DC for a very long time and that just ain’t sellin’ this time around. But I would have no trouble supporting him after today’s election results known...
Negative for Oakville, in South St. Louis County. I was number 18 @ 0655.
I voted today for Todd Akin. I think he’s the best of the three. Any of them would beat, and be better than, ObamaClaire. I think the results tonight could be close, with all three (Brunner, Akin, and Steelman) in the 25-35% range.
So could there be a runoff, or does the highest number of votes win in MO?
The latter, I believe. A plurality. No runoff. Not absolutely sure, though.
Highest vote count wins...
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