Posted on 08/07/2012 11:43:43 AM PDT by Da Bilge Troll
August 7th marks the end of a primary storm that has waged between three Republican primary senate candidates: Todd Akin, John Brunner, and Sarah Steelman. The race has divided grassroots and the abundant mud-slinging from the campaigns has everyone wishing for the expeditious arrival of voting day. Brunner has been classified as a Rick Perry type candidate who engages in negative campaigning which may or may not have been provoked. Endorsed by FreedomWorks, his upsides are that he's one of those outsider businessmen whom Obama claims didn't build his company (GermX); his downsides are that he's an outsider businessman new to campaigning. Owning a business doesn't guarantee congressional conservatism and no one knows exactly how he would represent constituents aside from proposed intentions. He oftentimes appears too stuffy or stern, a dangerous move opposite Claire McCaskill, while most vulnerable now, is a formidable campaigner.
Brunner has also been careful to avoid the tea party characterization while on the campaign trail. In an interview on his campaign RV outside a fair in Washington, Mo., Brunner twice refused to embrace the label of tea party candidate, adhering to a more centrist tone on the eve of the primary. Sarah Steelman has been the least favored by Missouri grassroots, although she has worked hard to bridge the divide with tea party outreach. Steelman's past of filibustering tort reform as a state senator and affiliation with unions like SEIU has given some voters pause.
Some Missouri Republicans and business groups argue Ms. Steelman does not deserve conservative support because she sided with trial lawyer and organized labor interests against fellow Republicans when tort reform and changes to the state’s workmen’s compensation laws were being debated.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Akin is a fine man, but most feel race is between Steelman and Brunner. I'll vote in November for last man/woman standing after this race ends. And I sure as hell want it to end before Republicans do any more damage to each other!!!
Should read $10 MILLION!
What time do polls close today>
7PM Central.
Go Akin !
We should have some sense of what direction this election is going by 9-10PM...
In any case, I'll vote R in the actual election. McCaskill is going down in November.
I pulled the lever for Steelman today. I was impressed with her campaigning during the Governor primary in 2008 when she lost to Kenny Hulsoff.
Regardless of who wins, I feel like any of the 3 would defeat McCaskill this year and we will be better off for it.
“I am with you as Todd Akin is my guy as well. It will be one hell of a campaign if Akin is to go up against McCatKiller as she is already gunning for him before the primaries even started......”
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My understanding is that McCaskill has spent considerable funds on negative campaigning against the three Republicans. I understand that the “negative” ads against Akin were so mild that they almost amounted to an endorsement of him (Akin hasn’t polled as well as Steelman and Brunner against McCaskill). She must be hoping she’ll have him to run against in the general.
I’m hoping Sarah Steel wins the nomination and, if not her, then Akin. I suspect that any of the three would be able to defeat McCaskill.
I voted for Todd Akin today. I think the results will be close, possibly with all three in the 25-35% range.
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