Capitol Calling

Carnahan, Blunt react to Obama's Afghanistan

Two of the contenders for the soon-to-be-vacant U.S. Senate seat in Missouri released statements on President Barack Obama's speech on Afghanistan.

U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Springfield, said Obama's speech tried to "walk a line between the political views of those who are ready to give up on the war in Afghanistan, and the real-world needs of both our troops on the ground and the Afghan people, all of whom need to have confidence that the U.S. is there to get the job done."

"While I’m pleased that he will take steps toward adopting General McChrystal’s troop level recommendations, setting a published timetable while announcing a troop increase will satisfy neither of those groups," Blunt said in a statement.

On Wednesday morning, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan released a statement saying that she supported "the decision by the President and his national security team to increase our troop levels in Afghanistan and I am encouraged that the strategy is receiving bipartisan support."

“We must protect our nation from future attacks by stabilizing Afghanistan and the region so that it is not a safe haven for terrorists and is eventually responsible for its own security," Carnahan said in the statement. "It's vital that there be clear benchmarks, strict oversight and that our troops have the tools they need to succeed and ultimately return home safely." 

 

 

Walking With the Ghost

In news that should surprise no one, Robin Carnahan and Roy Blunt raised tons of money for the soon-to-be open U.S. Senate seat in Missouri.

Once against, the longtime U.S. representative from Springfield raised roughly $1.3 million and has $2.27 million of cash on hand. Carnahan, the Democratic secretary of state, raised roughly $1.07 million and about $1.8 million of cash on hand.

Without disparaging either candidate's ability to fundraise, I contend that the outside committees - like the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee - will be the biggest competitive gauge in this race. If both campaigns pour in money until the end of the campaign, then it's probably going to be a close race. If one campaign bails out before the end, then it's probably a sign of trouble.

Given Missouri's propensity for close contests and the fundraising abilities of both candidates, I say it's likely at this point that both committees will be committed to this race. Both candidates are obviously viable.

Other campaign finance tidbits from around the bend:

- Sen. Wes Shoemyer, D-Clarence, raised over $45,000 for his re-election bid and has over $106K on hand. Rep. Steve Hobbs, R-Mexico, raised $11,600 and has about $31,000 on hand. Rep. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown, raised about $6,400 and has $8,766 on hand. Munzlinger has officially announced he'll challenge Shoemyer next year. Hobbs, who is term-limited, is a potential Republican contender as well.

- Billy Long seems to be the fundraising winner in this quarter's sweepstakes.

- Thomas Schweich beat out state Rep. Allen Icet in fundraising for last quarter. Both men are running for state auditor.

- Gov. Jay Nixon raised about $373,000 this quarter and has $700,000 on hand. Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder raised about $132,000 and has roughly $100,000 on hand in his committee.

Lobbyist Epidemic, Tonight

Democrats have been pushing the fact that U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Springfield, has taken more money from lobbyists than another candidate running for office this election cycle.

That's according to an article from USA Today, which features a chart showing Blunt's U.S. Senate campaign has scooped up $310,534 from lobbyists. In an e-mail to reporters, Missouri Democratic Party spokesman Ryan Hobart pointed out that the figure is more than Republican National Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee.

But the top committee that received funds from lobbyists on USA Today's list is the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. That committee - which has taken $731,800 from lobbyists - exists to help out Democratic candidates running for the U.S. Senate. The group's Republican counterpart has raised $408,500 from lobbyists, according to the article.

The question has to be asked: if the DSCC spends, say, $400,000 to help Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, wouldn't it stand to reason that the Democratic statewide official would benefit? That's especially the case if that money is used to fund ads attacking Blunt's congressional record. Conversely, Blunt would almost certainly benefit if the National Republican Senatorial Committee spends money to attack Carnahan.

The point is that lobbyist money - whether raised through candidate committees or through outside groups - will be flowing heavily in the race to replace U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, R-Missouri. That's one of the realities of running in a high-profile and tightly-contested race for an open U.S. Senate seat.

ADDENDUM: I asked Hobart about this issue and he sent me this response:

"The DSCC helps all Democratic Senate candidates, as does the NRSC and similar Republican groups. The real distinction here is that Congressman Blunt has raised over 300,000 dollars in lobbyist money this year for his personal campaign - more than any other candidate. He has even raised more lobbyist money than the Republican National Committee and the National Repubilcan Congressional Committee. It really shows that he is the quintessential Washington insider."

Purgason stays

Earlier this week, state Sen. Chuck Purgason promised a "major announcement" about his U.S. Senate campaign.

Could it be that the bolo-wearing legislator was dropping out the GOP primary? Was he resigning from the state Senate? Was he casting away his bolo forever?

Nope.

It turns out that Purgason, R-Caulfield, didn't use his Capitol Rotunda new conference for any breaking developments about his bid to replace U.S. Sen. Kit Bond. Instead, he used the media attention to criticize U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt for being a leadership when the nation's deficit exploded.

Blunt, R-Springfield, has racked up numerous endorsements and is raising big money for the contest. But Purgason said he's not backing down from his electoral fight.

Here's video from his presser:

Purgason said at his news conference that he was still opposed to plan where the state would issue bonds for capital improvement projects. He joined several other Republicans to torpedo the program earlier this year.

Missouri Democratic Party executive director Brain Zuzenak issued the following statement on Purgason's "major" announcement:

“Senator Purgason’s candidacy shows that Republicans are not unified behind Congressman Blunt because, as Senator Purgason said, the deficit is out of control and as part of the GOP leadership, Roy Blunt is part of the problem. But Missourians won’t be well served by Senator Purgason or Congressman Blunt – both have records of trying to cut senior citizens and the disabled off of Medicaid and Medicare. In contrast, Robin Carnahan has a record of standing up for seniors and putting Missourians first.”

KBIA Commentary: Purgason's Impact

How will state Sen. Chuck Purgason, R-Caulfield impact the GOP primary for U.S. Senate?

That's the topic of my KBIA Commentary. Take a listen:

 

Blunt and Luetkemeyer to barnstorm region

U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Springfield, and U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth, are in for a busy Saturday.

The two GOP lawmakers will attend several weekend events in northeast and central Missouri. Blunt and Luetkemeyer will be at the Boone County Ham Breakfast at 7 a.m. The two will be in Hannibal at 12:30 p.m. for a parade and Kirksville at 3:30 p.m. Both events will revolve around "energy issues."

Blunt is running for U.S. Senate. He faces state Sen. Chuck Purgason, R-Caulfield, the GOP primary. The winner will likely face Secretary of State Robin Carnahan.

The Boone County Ham Breakfast is a magnet for political figures. The apex of the event is the ham auction, an activity where bigwigs try to nab salty Boone County ham at outrageous prices. The final tabs are usually pretty high during election years.

Opinion of Boone County ham is varied. Some, like Boone County Commissioner Skip Elkin, said the dish is probably "the best ham in the nation." Others - such as Sen. Kit Bond - said the delicacy has tough competition from other county hams.

Let the Bolo Soar

KY3 reported yesterday that state Sen. Chuck Purgason will run for the U.S. Senate.

That guarantees a Republican primary between the two-term state senator and U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Springfield.

Purgason, who represents a huge rural district cutting across central and southern Missouri, was the lead sponsor in 2005 legislation cutting the Medicaid eligibility. He was also instrumental this year in derailing legislation forcing insurance companies to cover autism spectrum disorder.

In addition to his increasingly vocal criticism of state spending priorities, Purgason is well-known for his Western attire. He commonly wears a bolo tie in the Senate chambers.

Blunt has already racked up endorsements from nearly every element of the GOP establishment. He's also been raising serious money, even raising more than probable Democratic nominee Robin Carnahan.

But at the very least, the inclusion of Purgason could add a quirky wrinkle to the race to replace U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, R-Missouri.

The Biggest Catch?

U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt has wrangled up a bunch of endorsements over the past few weeks. But today's pair might be the biggest catches of all.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY, backed Blunt's bid for the U.S. Senate today. Only one other person running for an open seat - Florida Gov. Charlie Crist - received a similar endorsement.

"He is traveling the state, engaging voters, and offering solutions to the economic, health care, and education needs facing Show Me State voters," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. "While the likely Democrat nominee prefers to remain silent or undecided on the challenges confronting our country, Roy Blunt is - as he always has - providing critical leadership at home and in Washington."

The NRSC is a major third-party group in charge of providing resources and assistance to Senate candidates. A counterpart group - known as the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee - has assisted probable Democratic nominee Secretary of State Robin Carnahan.

The move could freeze out potential GOP challengers - such as former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman or state Sen. Chuck Purgason, R-Caulfield - from being about challenge Blunt financially. Blunt has also received backing from essentially every major Missouri Republican political figure in the state.

Still, Crist's endorsement from the NRSC hasn't been without detractors. Some national figures are breaking with the decision and endorsing former House Speaker Marco Rubio's Senate bid.

Whether this news causes something similar to occur in the Show Me State remains to be seen

Blunt bags Ashcroft's endorsement

U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Springfield, netted another major endorsement today in his quest for a U.S. Senate seat.

Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft threw his support behind Blunt's run today, saying in a statement that the longtime congressman will "represent our heartland values in the United States
Senate."

"We need Roy Blunt in the United States Senate to provide a check and balance to one-party liberal control in Washington," Ashcroft said in a statement.

Ashcroft - a former state attorney general, governor and U.S. Senator - is the latest GOP heavy-hitter to back Blunt.

Blunt has now received the backing of former U.S. Sens. John Danforth and Jim Talent, as well as U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, R-Missouri. He was also endorsed last week by Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder.

Former state treasurer Sarah Steelman and state Sen. Chuck Purgason, R-Caulfield, haven't ruled out Senate bids. Secretary of State Robin Carnahan is running as a Democrat for Bond's seat.

Kinder and Talent to endorse Blunt

For those holding out hope for a U.S. Senate bid this year by either former Sen. Jim Talent or Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, prepare to have your bubble burst.

Both men will be in St. Louis tomorrow to endorse U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt's U.S. Senate bid. Both Republican officials had been considered possible contenders for the race.

While Talent ducked out of the contest a few months ago, Kinder has kept mum on the subject since Sen. Kit Bond, R-Missouri, announced his retirement.

Blunt, R-Springfield, is the only announced Republican candidate. Secretary of State Robin Carnahan is running for the position as a Democrat.

Two other Republicans - former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman and state Sen. Chuck Purgason, R-Caulfield - are considering running as well.