Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill will likely be vulnerable to a GOP candidate in 2018, if she seeks a third term in the U.S. Senate. I know that 2018 is too early to tell, but in this age, speculation is at an all-time high. McCaskill, a tough Democrat, was elected in 2006 over Sen. Jim Talent, who was seen at the time as a Bush/Cheney/Rove/Rumsfeld lackey and who couldn't distance himself from other scandals, such as lobbyist Jack Abramoff. McCaskill became a rising star in the party, endorsing then Sen. Barack Obama for president in 2008, and helped him around the country. McCaskill was even considered a possible vice presidential running mate to Obama in 2008? Imagine a Obama-McCaskill ticket in 2008! How would a Obama/McCaskill administration had looked? However, McCaskill is a moderate Democrat, a former prosecutor, who was tough, a tough former State Auditor. She prides herself on that, and does not tow the party line on certain aspects. For instance:
-McCaskill did not like certain aspects of the 2009 Cap and Trade bill
-McCaskill wanted to "reform Social Security" in 2009 and 2010, but in 2015, said she was "against social security cuts".
-McCaskill voted in May 2015 to support the Trans Pacific Partnership, which would ship more jobs overseas to China, India, Korea, instead of jobs in Springfield, Nixa, St. Louis, Rolla, Mo. , and is also a secret agreement, and the American people do not know enough of what it does or what is inside of the agreement.
Some members here feel that McCaskill is a "Vichy Democrat", and cannot be trusted, believing that McCaskill should be primaried in 2018 by a more progressive Missouri Democrat. The question remains, who is that progressive Missouri Democrat, and can that Democrat win in a conservative-leaning Missouri that is still an swing state?
Which Democrat can defeat McCaskill in a August 2018 primary? State Senator Joseph Keaveny? I don't think so. Treasurer Clint Zwifel? Former Lt. Gov. Susan Montee?
Despite my strong opposition to Sen. McCaskill's vote to the terrible Trans Pacific Partnership, which will destroy America's economy, even more, I think primaring McCaskill in 2018 would be a good thing for the state of Missouri and the Democratic Party, however, I fear that it would only increase the odds of a Sen. Ann Wagner, a Sen. Vicky Hartzler, a Sen. Sarah Steelman, Sen. John Brunner, Sen. Sam Graves, even Jim Talent winning his old seat again.
McCaskill will not always be progressive on every issue, but let's face it: She's representing Missouri, a red-leaning state that is STILL A SWING STATE. The Missouri bellwether lives on.
Yes, Missouri demographics have been less diverse than other states. Missouri is seen as a Southern state now than a Midwestern state. I would disagree. It's a classic state, it's in the middle of the country, and despite McCaskill's DINO actions, she is the best person to hold the seat Blue for years to come.
I want to campaign and fight for Missouri, in all cities and towns, and I urge Daily Kos supporters here, not to abandon Missouri in 2016. Democrats should campaign for Missouri's 11 electoral votes. Doing so, as President Obama did in 2012, would be disappointing. Missouri has not voted Democratic in a presidential election since Clinton/Gore re-election in 1996.
Missouri has been taken over by the Evangelical right for a long time, especially in the Bootheel and the Springfield, Mo. area. Democrats usually rely on the St. Louis and Kansas City areas to win statewide elections, but Jay Nixon, Claire McCaskill, and Chris Koster have won by appealing to voters in Smithville, Springfield, Rolla, Poplar Bluff, Nixa, Jefferson City, Plano, Willard, Walnut Grove.
If McCaskill is primaried, and does lose, the Missouri Democrat should campaign all over the state, not abandon rural voters, and try to appeal to the "Rush listeners" and mobilize to all Missourians, because it would be better to keep the Senate seat blue, instead of seeing it go to a Ann Wagner, Sarah Steelman, a Sam Graves. They must excite ALL Missourians in 2018, and we know that in non-presidential years, turnout is low, very low, and a low African-American turnout, young, pragmatic turnout in Missouri could dampen prospects in the pivotal state.
Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill can be defeated in the Democratic primary, but we should make sure that if she is defeated in the primary, the Missouri Democrat holds on to the seat vigorously and energetically, or else Missouri will be going more and more right-wing.
Will the Show-Me-State stand up, or will it fall to Koch in 2018?
I pray not.
We will see.
http://www.stltoday.com/...
http://www.dailykos.com/...
http://www.news-leader.com/...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/...
http://www.showmeprogress.com/...
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/...
http://www.slate.com/...
http://www.newspressnow.com/...
http://www.senate.mo.gov/...
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