This one admittedly flew under our radar, but State Sen. Dan Clemens, R-Marshfield, won a second term on May 19. That's when Democratic challenger Joyce Dana withdrew, according to the Secretary of State's website.
Dana is an educator that got into the race for the 20th district seat on the last day of filing in March. Dana was deputy superintendent of the Springfield School District from 1988 to 1993 and was superintendent of the Marshfield district until the school board bought out her contract in 1998.
Clemens has no Republican challengers in August or Democrats in November. He bested Jim Kreider in 2002 by 9,000 votes. The 20th district covers Webster, Christian, Douglas and areas of Greene County that aren't in the city of Springfield.
That means three of southwest Missouri's state senate seats will go uncontested this year. Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, and Sen. Delbert Scott, R-Lowry City, also by win default.
Sen. Norma Champion, R-Springfield, will face former state rep. Doug Harpool to represent Springfield in Jefferson City.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Carnahan wants Special Session over Voter ID Act
From the AP Wires this afternoon:
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Secretary of State Robin Carnahan wants Governor Blunt to call a special legislative session to allocate money for implementing a voter identification bill. Blunt has said he plans to sign the measure, which will require voters to show a Missouri or federal government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot starting in November.
The bill requires the secretary of state's office to publicize the requirement and the Revenue Department to go around to nursing homes and elsewhere to help people lacking a state I-D card obtain a free one to vote.
Carnahan, a Democrat, sent a letter to the Republican governor Wednesday, asking him to call a special session so lawmakers can set aside funding to meet the bill's requirements. Supporters have said the expenses could either be absorbed from existing budgets or provided for next year, as lawmakers pass a budget bill every year to cover any unexpected costs that arise. During debate on the measure, Democrats argued that the Republican-led administration was vastly underestimating the cost of implementing the legislation -- a claim rejected by supporters
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Secretary of State Robin Carnahan wants Governor Blunt to call a special legislative session to allocate money for implementing a voter identification bill. Blunt has said he plans to sign the measure, which will require voters to show a Missouri or federal government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot starting in November.
The bill requires the secretary of state's office to publicize the requirement and the Revenue Department to go around to nursing homes and elsewhere to help people lacking a state I-D card obtain a free one to vote.
Carnahan, a Democrat, sent a letter to the Republican governor Wednesday, asking him to call a special session so lawmakers can set aside funding to meet the bill's requirements. Supporters have said the expenses could either be absorbed from existing budgets or provided for next year, as lawmakers pass a budget bill every year to cover any unexpected costs that arise. During debate on the measure, Democrats argued that the Republican-led administration was vastly underestimating the cost of implementing the legislation -- a claim rejected by supporters
Rep. Roy Blunt visits Iraq
Not be to outdone by his son, Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, is in Iraq meeting with laeders there. According to NBC, Blunt and a group of congressmen and senators met with the U.S. ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad and the spaker of Iraq's national assembly, Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani. Here's Blunt's sound bite:
Blunt's delegation was also the first from Congress to visit the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
"We had a tremendous discussion with the speaker. We not only wish him and the parliament the very best as they represent this permanent and elected government, but also wish the government, which we see as broad-based and able to meet the needs of this diverse and strong country, we wish them the very best."
Blunt's delegation was also the first from Congress to visit the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
Big bucks spent on power plant debate
Supporters and opponents of the Springfield power plant proposal are spending big bucks to pass/defeat the June 6 issue.
The Vote Yes for Local Power Supply Committee, an off-shoot of the Coalition for Building a Better Tomorrow, has spent $126,969.28, according to the latest records on file with the Missouri Ethics Commission. The group has raised $147,306.63 this election cycle, some of which has been used to support causes other than the power plant issue.
In the last month, the group has received $63,097 in contributions. Who's giving? Labor unions, current and former CU employees, the Chamber of Commerce, Empire Bank, architecture firms, and Jack Stack-affiliated companies. Stack co-chaired the Power Supply Task Force whose work ultimately recommended a coal-fired power plant to the city. Stack, who doesn't live in the city and won't vote on the issue, offered his endorsement of Southwest 2 in a recent op-ed piece. Stack's companies gave $9,750 to the coalition.
The committee paid $14,000 to a Springfield firm for a poll that found 51% in support of the plant, 29% against and 20% undecided. More than $80,000 went to an ad firm to buy radio and television ads.
The leading opposition group, Ratepayers for Affordable Utilities, has already spent twice what it did to defeat the power plant in 2004. Back then, the group spent $12,470.72. This time around, they have spent $26721.43, mostly on printing and mailing a four page "voter's guide." Chief contributors include Ozarks Coca-Cola (whose vice president Sally Hargis was also on the Power Supply Task Force) Penn Enterprises (a laundry firm), and Positronic Industries.
The Vote Yes for Local Power Supply Committee, an off-shoot of the Coalition for Building a Better Tomorrow, has spent $126,969.28, according to the latest records on file with the Missouri Ethics Commission. The group has raised $147,306.63 this election cycle, some of which has been used to support causes other than the power plant issue.
In the last month, the group has received $63,097 in contributions. Who's giving? Labor unions, current and former CU employees, the Chamber of Commerce, Empire Bank, architecture firms, and Jack Stack-affiliated companies. Stack co-chaired the Power Supply Task Force whose work ultimately recommended a coal-fired power plant to the city. Stack, who doesn't live in the city and won't vote on the issue, offered his endorsement of Southwest 2 in a recent op-ed piece. Stack's companies gave $9,750 to the coalition.
The committee paid $14,000 to a Springfield firm for a poll that found 51% in support of the plant, 29% against and 20% undecided. More than $80,000 went to an ad firm to buy radio and television ads.
The leading opposition group, Ratepayers for Affordable Utilities, has already spent twice what it did to defeat the power plant in 2004. Back then, the group spent $12,470.72. This time around, they have spent $26721.43, mostly on printing and mailing a four page "voter's guide." Chief contributors include Ozarks Coca-Cola (whose vice president Sally Hargis was also on the Power Supply Task Force) Penn Enterprises (a laundry firm), and Positronic Industries.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
TruthWatch: Power Plant TV and Radio Ads
Both sides of the Springfield power plant debate are spending lots of money to convince voters they are right and the other side is misleading. Cara Restelli looks at the recent TV and radio ads to see where the truth lies.
She also wants questions to take to City Utilities to get answered. E-mail her and she’ll do her best to get it answered.
She also wants questions to take to City Utilities to get answered. E-mail her and she’ll do her best to get it answered.
Talent to launch re-election campaign this weekend
Sen. Jim Talent, R-Missouri, will launch his re-election campaign this weekend with a statewide tour.
Friday June 2 - 8:30 am Springfield
11:00 am Joplin
1:30 pm Kansas City
4:30 pm Columbia
Saturday June 3 - 9:00 am St. Louis
11:15 am Cape Girardeau
2:30 pm St. Joseph
6:00 pm Hannibal
Here's the AP's take on it:
WASHINGTON (AP) - Senator Jim Talent officially kicks off his
re-election campaign this weekend with an eight-city tour that
highlights his accomplishments in Congress.
Polls show the Missouri Republican in a tight race with state
auditor Claire McCaskill, his likely Democratic opponent.
Until now, Talent has not engaged McCaskill much, though she has
been actively campaigning around the state for months.
That is expected to change Friday, according to a Talent
spokesman. Talent will defend his record over the past four years
and stress the differences between him and McCaskill.
Friday June 2 - 8:30 am Springfield
11:00 am Joplin
1:30 pm Kansas City
4:30 pm Columbia
Saturday June 3 - 9:00 am St. Louis
11:15 am Cape Girardeau
2:30 pm St. Joseph
6:00 pm Hannibal
Here's the AP's take on it:
WASHINGTON (AP) - Senator Jim Talent officially kicks off his
re-election campaign this weekend with an eight-city tour that
highlights his accomplishments in Congress.
Polls show the Missouri Republican in a tight race with state
auditor Claire McCaskill, his likely Democratic opponent.
Until now, Talent has not engaged McCaskill much, though she has
been actively campaigning around the state for months.
That is expected to change Friday, according to a Talent
spokesman. Talent will defend his record over the past four years
and stress the differences between him and McCaskill.
Local Democratic Chief gets national attention, doubts HRC in 2008
Nora Walcott, the outgoing executive director for Greene County dems, turned up in a national piece on Hillary Clinton on this morning's "Good Morning America."
Clinton will be officially announcing her candidacy for re-election to the U.S. Senate this week. The ABC story used a video that Clinton released as a jumping off point for how she plans to position herself not just for November but the seemingly inevitable run for the White House in 2008.
Walcott gave voice to what many Democrats won't say publicly: that Hillary won't convert red states to blue. Walcott caught ABC's eye after the New Yorker quoted her making similar remarks when Virginia's Mark Warner rallied Greene County Democrats in April.
Walcott held her own adjacent to comments from former Gore-Lieberman manager Donna Brazile. Brazile likened upstate New York voters to Midwest voters, implying that if Clinton can win over those voters, she can convince the rest of the country as well.
We checked it out -- of New York's 57 counties outside NYC, 37 went Bush/Cheney in 2004. Throw out the Big Apple's neighboring Nassau and Westchester counties, and Bush loses by less than 47,000 votes.
We're glad to see the network taking notice of Middle America.
Clinton will be officially announcing her candidacy for re-election to the U.S. Senate this week. The ABC story used a video that Clinton released as a jumping off point for how she plans to position herself not just for November but the seemingly inevitable run for the White House in 2008.
Walcott gave voice to what many Democrats won't say publicly: that Hillary won't convert red states to blue. Walcott caught ABC's eye after the New Yorker quoted her making similar remarks when Virginia's Mark Warner rallied Greene County Democrats in April.
Walcott held her own adjacent to comments from former Gore-Lieberman manager Donna Brazile. Brazile likened upstate New York voters to Midwest voters, implying that if Clinton can win over those voters, she can convince the rest of the country as well.
We checked it out -- of New York's 57 counties outside NYC, 37 went Bush/Cheney in 2004. Throw out the Big Apple's neighboring Nassau and Westchester counties, and Bush loses by less than 47,000 votes.
We're glad to see the network taking notice of Middle America.
Monday, May 29, 2006
Power Plant Ads Begin
The debate that's been tossed around the op-ed pages and talk radio for the last, well, two years, is now on your television screen.
The PRO-power plant group, Vote Yes for Local Power Supply Committee, is an off-shoot of a PAC known as the Coalition for Building a Better Tomorrow. The group has been around for several years contributing to Republican campaigns
Its list of recent contributors includes several City Utilities employees and labor unions. The most recent filing with the Missouri Ethics Commission showed a lot of money in the bank but nothing spent so far to pass the June 6th issue. We should know a lot more Monday or Tuesday when they have to file reports for contributions and expenditures between April 22 and May 25.
ANTI-power plant forces are also getting word out. A four page newsletter of sorts showed up in the most recent Community Free Press. Former Springfield mayor Lee Gannaway's group, Ratepayers for Affordable Utilities, put together that publication. I'll let Tony Messenger offer his two cents on that group's interpretation of CU data.
The other group, Citizens for Affordable Energy, has done a lot of the talking for the last two years against the power plant. Their filings with the state show they did not and did not plan to collect or spend more than $500 on their efforts.
For what's it worth, our very informal survey at KY3.com showed a strong majority in support of the power plant.
The PRO-power plant group, Vote Yes for Local Power Supply Committee, is an off-shoot of a PAC known as the Coalition for Building a Better Tomorrow. The group has been around for several years contributing to Republican campaigns
Its list of recent contributors includes several City Utilities employees and labor unions. The most recent filing with the Missouri Ethics Commission showed a lot of money in the bank but nothing spent so far to pass the June 6th issue. We should know a lot more Monday or Tuesday when they have to file reports for contributions and expenditures between April 22 and May 25.
ANTI-power plant forces are also getting word out. A four page newsletter of sorts showed up in the most recent Community Free Press. Former Springfield mayor Lee Gannaway's group, Ratepayers for Affordable Utilities, put together that publication. I'll let Tony Messenger offer his two cents on that group's interpretation of CU data.
The other group, Citizens for Affordable Energy, has done a lot of the talking for the last two years against the power plant. Their filings with the state show they did not and did not plan to collect or spend more than $500 on their efforts.
For what's it worth, our very informal survey at KY3.com showed a strong majority in support of the power plant.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Stuck In The 30s
Governor Matt Blunt's approval rating has been stuck in the 30s for the last year. A few months back, several Republicans told me that his numbers would rise after this legislative session, because this year was less controversial than the 2005 term that slashed Medicaid for thousands of Missourians.
But it hasn't happened. SurveyUSA's May 2006 poll has the Governor sitting at 35%. In May 2005, it had him at 33%. Over the last year, Blunt's highest approval mark has been 37%, in March and April this year.
Governor Blunt has been critical of SurveyUSA's methods. And it's important to note that the survey sample has more voters identifying themselves as Democrats than Republicans.
But some political observers are wondering what it will take for Blunt to burst out of the 30s.
But it hasn't happened. SurveyUSA's May 2006 poll has the Governor sitting at 35%. In May 2005, it had him at 33%. Over the last year, Blunt's highest approval mark has been 37%, in March and April this year.
Governor Blunt has been critical of SurveyUSA's methods. And it's important to note that the survey sample has more voters identifying themselves as Democrats than Republicans.
But some political observers are wondering what it will take for Blunt to burst out of the 30s.
No Love For Hil In Mizzou?
In this week's edition of The New Yorker, writer Jeffrey Goldberg talks about the battle within the Democratic Party over how to take advantage of the President's low approval ratings.
Goldberg spent time in Missouri reporting on the topic and he says Missouri Democrats are quietly worried about Hillary Clinton running for President.
"Missouri Democrats told me, over and over, that yes, they like Hillary Clinton, they think she's a good senator, they admire her personal qualities, but the last thing they want right now is for her to come to Missouri and campaign on behalf of their candidates," said Goldberg.
"Missouri is a state that could go for a Democrat in a national election, but what they were saying to me is, We hope that the Party understands that nominating Hillary Clinton means that you take Missouri out of play, and when Missouri is out of play, thirty other states are out of play."
Don't expect Hillary to come out and campaign for Claire McCaskill. But do expect her to possibly quietly raise some cash for her.
Goldberg spent time in Missouri reporting on the topic and he says Missouri Democrats are quietly worried about Hillary Clinton running for President.
"Missouri Democrats told me, over and over, that yes, they like Hillary Clinton, they think she's a good senator, they admire her personal qualities, but the last thing they want right now is for her to come to Missouri and campaign on behalf of their candidates," said Goldberg.
"Missouri is a state that could go for a Democrat in a national election, but what they were saying to me is, We hope that the Party understands that nominating Hillary Clinton means that you take Missouri out of play, and when Missouri is out of play, thirty other states are out of play."
Don't expect Hillary to come out and campaign for Claire McCaskill. But do expect her to possibly quietly raise some cash for her.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
McCaskill's Sister Souljah Moment?
During the 1992 presidential campaign, candidate Bill Clinton famously repudiated a black political activist's comments about race, angering members of the Democratic base he was trying to court.
It was dubbed his "Sister Souljah moment" -- named after the woman he scorned for what he believed were racist comments. It was highly controversial at the time, but it eventually positioned him as someone who would stand up to his own base in the heat of battle.
Claire McCaskill had a Sister Souljah moment in Springfield recently, when she was here promoting a military bill of rights.
During a question and answer period with audience members, a Democratic activist asked her if she would take the lead in impeaching President Bush. McCaskill said flatly she would not.
"I know this isn't the answer you want to hear, but I will always tell you what I really believe instead of the answer you want to hear. I honestly believe that any attempt to try impeachment is going to distract the country from its problems," replied the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate.
It's not exactly a shock that McCaskill is trying to distance herself from the more liberal members of her party in a state turning increasingly red. But it was a direct response to a Democratic activist hoping for a different answer. I guess that raises the question, as McCaskill moves to the center, does she have to worry about losing her own base?
It was dubbed his "Sister Souljah moment" -- named after the woman he scorned for what he believed were racist comments. It was highly controversial at the time, but it eventually positioned him as someone who would stand up to his own base in the heat of battle.
Claire McCaskill had a Sister Souljah moment in Springfield recently, when she was here promoting a military bill of rights.
During a question and answer period with audience members, a Democratic activist asked her if she would take the lead in impeaching President Bush. McCaskill said flatly she would not.
"I know this isn't the answer you want to hear, but I will always tell you what I really believe instead of the answer you want to hear. I honestly believe that any attempt to try impeachment is going to distract the country from its problems," replied the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate.
It's not exactly a shock that McCaskill is trying to distance herself from the more liberal members of her party in a state turning increasingly red. But it was a direct response to a Democratic activist hoping for a different answer. I guess that raises the question, as McCaskill moves to the center, does she have to worry about losing her own base?
Talent's Approval Rating Takes A Dive
Senator Jim Talent's May 2006 approval rating sits at just 43%, according to a poll taken by SurveyUSA. Conventional wisdom says anything below the 50-percent mark is trouble for incumbents. It's just another signal that his re-election battle against Democrat Claire McCaskill remains a barnburner.
The most surprising part of this poll is Talent's number in the Ozarks. Among voters in southwest Missouri, the junior senator's approval rating is 41%. That's a drop of 19 points in 5 months among what's presumed to be his conservative base.
When I interviewed Jennifer Duffy of the Cook Political Report in Washington, D.C. last fall, she told me: "The one thing that could hurt Talent is a disengaged Republican base. They're going to have to turn out and vote for him. That's the key to his success."
Also notable: Talent has dropped 11 points in 2 months among pro-life voters. Speculation among politicos is that his evolving position on embryonic stem cell research has angered and possibly confused some voters. Talent is down 8 points in 2 months among all voters sampled.
Still, when I pressed Duffy on a prediction back in November, she said, "You always give a little bit of an edge to an incumbent like Talent who doesn't have high negatives, who doesn't have a scandal, who has a tremendous fundraising advantage."
To be fair to Duffy, that *was* last November. And the political landscape has shifted significantly.
The most surprising part of this poll is Talent's number in the Ozarks. Among voters in southwest Missouri, the junior senator's approval rating is 41%. That's a drop of 19 points in 5 months among what's presumed to be his conservative base.
When I interviewed Jennifer Duffy of the Cook Political Report in Washington, D.C. last fall, she told me: "The one thing that could hurt Talent is a disengaged Republican base. They're going to have to turn out and vote for him. That's the key to his success."
Also notable: Talent has dropped 11 points in 2 months among pro-life voters. Speculation among politicos is that his evolving position on embryonic stem cell research has angered and possibly confused some voters. Talent is down 8 points in 2 months among all voters sampled.
Still, when I pressed Duffy on a prediction back in November, she said, "You always give a little bit of an edge to an incumbent like Talent who doesn't have high negatives, who doesn't have a scandal, who has a tremendous fundraising advantage."
To be fair to Duffy, that *was* last November. And the political landscape has shifted significantly.
KY3 Launches Political Blog
With the unofficial start of summer and just 5 months away from the 2006 elections, KY3 announces the launch of a new political blog designed to keep you up to date on the latest from the campaign trail. We can't possibly fit all of the important political headlines and developments into our normal newscasts, so this blog is designed to better serve you.
This blog will take you inside the notebooks of our reporters for the latest developments, analysis and buzz. And we'll include juicy "insider" tidbits and observations the candidates may not want you to hear. The goal is to become your top resource for political coverage on the air and online.
We want and *need* your help as we launch this pilot project. If you have any comments, complaints, suggestions or ideas, please email me at dcatanese@ky3.com.
Let the campaigns begin!
David Catanese
KY3 News Political Reporter
This blog will take you inside the notebooks of our reporters for the latest developments, analysis and buzz. And we'll include juicy "insider" tidbits and observations the candidates may not want you to hear. The goal is to become your top resource for political coverage on the air and online.
We want and *need* your help as we launch this pilot project. If you have any comments, complaints, suggestions or ideas, please email me at dcatanese@ky3.com.
Let the campaigns begin!
David Catanese
KY3 News Political Reporter
Friday, May 26, 2006
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