The Hill: Can Dems Capitalize on Issues?

Are Democrats doing the groundwork to capitalize on two big ballot initiatives in Missouri to help their U.S. Senate candidate Claire McCaskill?

Some wonder in an article by The Hill (via KC Buzz Blog.)

Two Missouri ballot initiatives, to increase the minimum wage and approve stem cell research, have wide cross-party appeal but some Democrats think Democratic Senate candidate Claire McCaskill is failing to capitalize on them to topple Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.)

Democrats are concerned that McCaskill, the state auditor, and the coalition of labor unions and left-leaning pressure groups that organized the petition drive to get the minimum wage measure on November’s ballot have done too little to mobilize the Democrat’s traditional base voters.

“It leaves something to be desired and could be infinitely more powerful,” said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), former mayor of Kansas City. “The proponents of the [wage] initiative should have gone on radio shortly after the August primary. The message has to be out repeatedly until it becomes a McDonald’s discussion.”