Sunday, September 20, 2009

Stouffer To Kick-Off Congressional Campaign Wednesday

Two-term Republican State Senator Bill Stouffer will officially kick of his campaign for U.S. Congress in an announcement tour beginning Wednesday, The Notebook has learned.
Stouffer, who represents parts of nine mostly rural counties in central-western Missouri, will make stops in Blue Springs, Marshfield and Jefferson City to announce his 2010 bid to take on 17-term Democratic Congressman Ike Skelton.

Skelton, who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, has handily won re-election in the 4th Congressional District with more than 60 percent of the vote for years. But due to a souring national environment against Democrats and Skelton's recent votes with party leadership, Missouri Republicans believe the 22-year veteran is ripe for an upset.

Stouffer, who is considered the early favorite for the 4th Disrict GOP nomination, will begin his announcement tour at Zarda BBQ in Blue Springs at 10 a.m. Wednesday. He'll continue with a stop at the Marshfield Christian School in Webster County at 2:30 p.m.

On Thursday, Stouffer will cap off his announcement tour with a 10 a.m. stop in Jefferson City.

A formal media release is expected Monday.

Stouffer is one of three Republicans seeking the party's nomination to challenge Skelton. Former state representative Vicky Hartzler held healthcare town hall meetings in Marshfield and Lebanon last month and already has a campaign website up.

Army retiree and businessman James Scholz has also indicated he'll mount a campaign.

The 4th Congressional district covers most of central-western Missouri, sprawling from Webster County in the Ozarks to the state capitol to the suburbs of Kansas City in Cass County. Other Ozarks counties included in the 4th are Dallas, Laclede, Pulaski, Camden, Hickory, Benton Cedar, Dade and Barton. They all fall in the Ky3 viewing area.

Missouri Democrats have signaled that Skelton's re-election will be a top priority. The district is solidly Republican in presidential contests. George W. Bush and John McCain both won with margins comparable to Skelton.

But Stouffer has said he believes the race will come down to a referendum on the Democratic majority in Congress.


1 comment:

Unknown said...

I find it interesting you use the phrase "early favorite". I have yet to see Bill Stouffer run any form of outreach to the district. Since announcing her candidacy support for Bill Stouffer has dramatically decreased. I just hope he realizes it soon.