In 2006, Claire McCaskill won a narrow victory over Jim Talent
in the Missouri Senate race in a great year for Democrats, but now
finds herself as one of the top Republican targets in 2012.
McCaskill, while presenting herself as an independent voice in the
Senate, ultimately voted for the key aspects of the Obama agenda.
That includes the national health care law, which is so unpopular
in her home state that
71 percent of voters backed a ballot measure earlier this year
aimed at protecting the state’s residents from the law’s individual
mandate. Last month, Republican Roy Blunt won his Senate race in
Missouri by 13 points.
Yesterday, Sarah Steelman, a former state treasurer and state
senator, has
announced plans to challenge McCaskill, setting the stage for
what could be a hard fought primary. The Club for Growth came out
this morning to applaud Steelman’s entrance into the race, with
Club president Chris Chocola calling it “a welcome sign for
pro-growth conservatives.” By contrast, Chocola fired a preemtive
strike against Talent, who is believed to be considering a rematch
against McCaskill. “With a record of support for government
expansion and outrageous earmark spending, it would be more
difficult for Jim Talent to successfully contrast his record with
Claire McCaskill’s,” he said. You can already see the conservative
outsider vs. establishment RINO narrative forming.
Democratic polling firm PPP has conducted an early poll of the
race, and confirms that McCaskill is vulnerable, essentially tied
with prospective challengers. She has a one point edge over
Steelman, while trailing Talent and Lt Gov. Peter Kinder, another
possible candidate, by two points each. She doesn’t poll above 45
percent any any of the hypothetical matchups, which is typically a
bad sign for incumbents. Also a bad sign — only 43 percent approve
of her job performance, compared with 44 percent who
disapprove.
Marie| 12.2.10 @ 12:00PM
We all remember Claire's close relationship with B. Hussein Obama during the '08 election. She's voted for virtually everything he's wanted, particularly the health care mess. She thinks we're stupid. She told us she'd only support health care changes if they didn't increase costs.
ha. Bye bye Claire.
John Sanford| 12.2.10 @ 1:18PM
When heat is applied, she jumps around like spit on a hot stove...in '12: roadkill.
Adrian| 12.2.10 @ 1:41PM
The next one to be opposed is Dick Lugar from IN. The conservatives are looking for only one (not the 3 conservatives and one moderate who ran against Coats) person to take on Lugar in the primary.
Steve-O| 12.2.10 @ 4:25PM
If my memory serves me correctly, McCaskill endorsed BHO very early in the primaries. That will be pointed out as soon as she tries to distance herself from the President. Further, the HRC forces are always lurking looking for payback opportunities.
Ellie| 12.2.10 @ 7:27PM
Steve O is right. Claire leaped out very early in support of BHO. Totally on board and got us here in MO nothing. No cornhusker kickback, no Louisiana purchase. Zip zero nada.
70 percent here approved a proposition last year against our state submitting to Obamacare.
bye bye Claire. we won't forget.