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.
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.
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.