As 2012 looms Claire McCaskill declares her independence

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Comment by Michael hannum on November 30, 2010 at 10:26pm

Nice comment Yvonne. I enjoyed reading the update from Missouri.

Comment by Yvonne Starks on November 30, 2010 at 5:56pm

From 20 Pounds of Headlines 11/29/10

Entering stage right, Sarah Steelman as a potential US Senate candidate in 2012 to take on Democrat Claire McCaskill.

The National Journal has put together this wrap up: Scouting Out Steelman:
We noted Monday in the Starting Lineup that former Missouri Sen. Jim Talent (R) will wait until early 2011 to decide whether he will seek a rematch with Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) -- but that he is already sounding an awful lot like a candidate.

But Hotline On Call has learned there are new signs that Talent may not be the GOP's candidate of choice in the race. National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair John Cornyn (R-Texas) reached out to former Missouri Treasurer Sarah Steelman (R) about a Senate campaign before Thanksgiving, according to an NRSC source. In addition to encouraging her to run, Cornyn assured Steelman that the NRSC would stay neutral in a Republican primary between her and Talent.

The Cornyn-Steelman conversation is indicative of a few things. First, it shows that national Republicans aren't completely on board with Talent being their nominee. If the anti-Washington mood carries through to 2012, Talent's work as a lobbyist in 2001 won't help him.

Second, the NRSC is showing a newfound interest in Steelman, a Tea Party favorite, who it shunned last year in favor of Roy Blunt. Steelman, who one GOP strategist called "Sarah Palin with an economics degree," could also neutralize Sen. Claire McCaskill's advantage winning over women voters.

The NRSC's courting of Steelman shows it has learned some lessons from last year's contentious primaries. While they worked hard to anoint establishment candidates in 2010 with little success, it now looks like they're working to court a Tea Party favorite early to avoid some of the primary messes (see: Florida, Kentucky, Delaware, Colorado, Nevada).

NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh said that both candidates would be strong contenders -- and that the NRSC isn't picking sides early. "From the NRSC's perspective there are several potential candidates, including Jim Talent and Sarah Steelman, who could mount a winning campaign against Claire McCaskill," he said. "But any implication that we might side with one over another is incorrect because the nominee will ultimately be chosen by the voters."

Comment by Michael hannum on November 30, 2010 at 10:57am

Democrats / Hippocrats one in the same. You are absolutely right. Hopefully she will be called out by a strong Tea Party or Republican voice.

Comment by Steve Shute on November 29, 2010 at 2:24pm

McCaskill couldn't get any closer to Obama's backside if her nose were surgically implanted at the end of his large intestine.

And now she has the unmitigated gall to say that she is an "independent-minded" Democrat??? Does anybody remember the glowing speeches and discussions she would have about ObamaCare??

Claire simply MUST go. Let's just hope some of those rural voters remember who was one of the driving forces in the Senate behind our new health care Leviathan.

Comment by Yvonne Starks on November 28, 2010 at 6:45pm

McCaskill was on FOX NEWS Sunday with Chris Wallace this morning---debating, as it were, with Republican Lindsay Graham on various issues. Wallace did ask her about her "new-found independence" where she replied she had shown it since "day one"---voting against the Omnibus bills, Cash for Clunkers, and was against Cap & Trade. Okay---what's the other side list? ObamaCare would be a #1 issue discussion for her.

And, as a sidebar, funny that Obama calls her "the best friend one could have in WDC" (or something like that). Her adoration of the man is hard not to notice.

I would personally hope that former Republican Senator Jim Talent would run against her for a second time for the 2012 election.....but ONLY if he actually does have the fight within to call her out and put on a real fight. He was pretty mild mannered, too much of a gentle man (literally--that's why separated into two words).

We also need to remember that McCaskill was very smart in 2006 election---she worked the normally-Republican rural areas like a pro (the every-day woman) and they definitely did help elect her. Talent can not allow himself to lose them this time---or take them for granted---as he must have done 4 years ago. ?? Plus, they especially want truth and strength.

We The People are going to need to get busy NOW to help tell the truth---no matter who the Republican is---about little, sweet Claire, using her mother's voice so teach and calm us because we've lost one of our best voices to the masses who understands her well: KCMO's Chris Stigall.

What a loss in more ways than one. We gotta get better in holding our radio talk show hosts in KC---first, Jerry Agar and now Chris.