Talent Stumps For Romney in Iowa

TOUTS JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS

Former Missouri Senator Jim Talent was in Iowa Sunday, campaigning for Mitt Romney.

MSNBC's First Read reports that Talent was reminding Evangelical leaders of the importance of judicial appointments.

From First Read:

"Former Missouri Sen. Jim Talent (R) and his son traveled with the campaign in Iowa yesterday, as did pro-life advocate and attorney Jay Sekulow. Talent and Sekulow explained to reporters on the press bus yesterday afternoon that they have been meeting with evangelical Christian in leaders in the state to remind them of the importance of judicial appointments over the next few years. Sekulow insisted: “To nominate someone and then to see to confirming them are two different tasks. And for the task of confirmation, you have to have the political skills and leadership to do that,” insinuating that Huckabee may not quite be ready for that."

Video: McCaskill on the Farm

HERE IS the video from my Q&A with Sen. Claire McCaskill on a farm in Rogersville Wednesday.

McCaskill talks about farm subsidies, funding for the war in Iraq and why she’d support Jim Talent for Attorney General. It runs about 6 minutes.

McCaskill Would Support Talent For A.G.

At a stop on her farm tour in Rogersville Wednesday, Sen. Claire McCaskill said she could support former rival Jim Talent for U.S. Attorney General.

With national and Missouri blogs fluttering with speculation about Talent as a potential candidate to replace outgoing Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, I put the question to McCaskill: Could she vote to confirm her old opponent?

"I probably would. It's probably not my preference," McCaskill said, after pausing for a quick second. "Not because I don't think Jim Talent is a smart man, and a good lawyer. But he has no criminal experience whatsoever."

McCaskill said her top pick would be someone with a good amount of law enforcement experience. "This is about running the Department of Justice, and working with lifetime career prosecutors, the FBI and law enforcement officials. If this president wants to send a signal that he's done playing politics with the Department of Justice, I would highly recommend he nominate someone who has professional credentials in law enforcement," the junior Senator added.

WaPost: White House Had Drug Officials Appear With Talent -- and KY3 Covered It

White House officials arranged for top officials at the Office of National Drug Control Policy to help Sen. Jim Talent during the months leading up to the November 2006 elections, according to a report by the Washington Post.

According to the article, officials made appearances and sometimes announced new federal grants for as many as 18 vulnerable Republican congressmen.

Drug control office director John P. Walters or his deputies held events almost almost exclusively with GOP officials, many of whom were embroiled in tough reelection campaigns, according to the report:

"Two were held with then- Sen. James M. Talent of Missouri, who was defeated last November. At one of those stops, Walters announced that four Missouri counties had been designated part of a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, which brings $500,000 in federal funding to help local law enforcement efforts, Waxman said. It was one of several grant announcements made while drug policy officials were appearing with GOP candidates."

Apparently, KY3 covered the event in question. But this event was a year before the election. With a hat tip to my assignment editor, here's the original e-mail that was sent to the station.

As mentioned on the phone, here is a media advisory with details on the news conference we'll be holding in Springfield on Monday, 11/14. This conference is the first time we are announcing this effort, which is coming to Springfield first among 23 U.S cities. We will also be showing the new public service ads publicly for the first time. I certainly hope someone from KY3 will join us. Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions-my contact information follows.

Best regards,
Hallie
Hallie Deaktor
Deputy Director of Public Affairs
Partnership for a Drug-Free America

Time and location:
· 10 a.m., central time, Monday, November 14, 2005
· Greene County Drug Court, 1010 North Boonville Ave., Springfield, MO 65802

For security clearance and set-up, news media are advised to arrive 60 minutes prior to event launch.

WSJ: Talent Signs On With Auto Makers

From the Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire:

Jim Talent has signed on as a lobbyist for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the chief lobbying group that represents Detroit’s Big Three auto makers and Toyota Motor Corp. of Japan, among others.

His job: Speak out about pending fuel economy legislation pending in the U.S. Senate.

Talent says efforts to increase mileage rules could devastate millions of auto workers. “You’re talking about taking food, education and quality of life away from people who don’t have any other alternative,” he told reporters.

Just Wondering . . .

Did anyone catch the quick videoclip of Jim Talent sitting at a table with Mitt Romney in Sunday's 60 Minutes piece?

Check it out.

We also caught Talent walking behind one of the MSNBC live shots after the first Republican debate in California.

Seems like Romney's "Talent" is everywhere.