Frist: Dems Surrender White Flag, Cut & Run; Warns of Pelosi's Culture of Hollywood

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist rallied the Republican faithful in Springfield Tuesday to re-elect Sen. Jim Talent to his first full-term.

Missouri's Senior Senator Kit Bond accompanied Talent and Frist on the campaign trail around the Ozarks as well.

"Jim's a man of calm demeanor," Bond said. "Something I've never been accused of."

Bond lauded Talent's leadership on the cornerstones of his campaign: ethanol and anti-meth bills, as well as his support for lower taxes and tough terrorism policies.

"The Senate is a lot like Hollywood, with lots of showhorses. He's a workhorse," Bond said of Talent.

Bond also took a dig at Talent's Democratic opponent, Claire McCaskill on the issue of taxes. "Missouri families support lower taxes, unless you happen to have assets in an off-shore tax shelter, where you don't pay any taxes," Bond said to laughs from the crowd. "But for those of us who don't, we know we need to keep the tax rates low."

Majority Leader Frist called the Democrats the "party of obstructionism." Frist lead the crowd in cheers of Republicans being "right" and Democrats being "wrong" on a host of issues.

"When I say the Republicans are right, we are basically saying we're going to defeat the terrorists," Frist said. "The Democrats are wrong when they say surrender that white flag and let's cut and run."

"Americans and Republicans are right when they say we're out there fighting for the sanctity of life and marriage being between a man and a woman and Democrats are wrong when we have Nancy Pelosi and those leftist ideas and that culture of Hollywood coming forward," Frist said.

Looking well-rested and fashioning a new haircut, Talent said he was positioned "well" going into the last week. While Bond and Frist served up the red meat, Talent kept mostly to meat and potatoes, the issues he has touted all along. He gave his laundry list of accomplishments and tied them into reasons why to vote for him:

*Ethanol bill, with renewable fuels standard
*Combat Meth Act
*Tax Cuts which sparked 19 straight economic quarters of growth
*Support for federal marriage amendment
*Support for "life" at all stages
*Support for border fence; opposed to amnesty
*Support for warrantless wiretapping of terrorists

During his speech, he also touched on social issues that resonate with conservatives.

"I'm the only one in this race who believes in common sense conservative values. Senator Frist mentioned marriage. I think marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman," he said to big applause.

"I'm a strong believer in the dignity and value of life at all stages. I stood up for the partial birth abortion ban," Talent added, being interrupted by applause again.

Talent said he has visited 50 counties in the last month, but urged supporters to get involved in the G.O.P's 72-hour get-out-the vote program.

"We will do our part. Please do your part, let's get out the vote," Talent said. "Let's win on November 7th."

Claire McCaskill will hold a rally in Springfield Wednesday at 4:15 at Parkview High School. Barring breaking news or unforeseen circumstances, KY3 News plans equal opportunity coverage.