McCaskill, Carnahan, Nixon huddling
They are meeting right now in Robin Carnahan's campaign office down on Laclede's Landing.
The topic of discussion: a recent poll by the Democratic National Party that showed McCaskill within the margin of error of Talent.
If McCaskill runs for Senate, that means she gives up the Auditor spot in 06.
While she has a strong funding base of support from her gubernatorial campaign, Senate races are qualitatively different than state-wide even though they draw on the same voters. Senate races draw national money. Therefore, the backing of the National Committee which did the poll and expected stalwart support from Emily's List and others could make the race more attractive to her.
Finally, it completely recasts McCaskill. From the selfish ambitious ouster of a sitting Governor who cared more about her career than the state party in 04, to a selfless, charge up the hill, take one for the team leader.
Will it happen?
We'll see, but it certainly looks like a better bet than Chuck Graham.
She gets cart blanche if she gets in with a poll like that. The DSCC will do as much as it can and so will the other national groups.
Posted by ArchPundit on Tue., Apr 19, 2005 at 3:09 PMbut will she set aside her ambition to be governor to take this shot? i just dont know. Robin and Jay need to put the strongarm on this one.
Posted by Ben on Tue., Apr 19, 2005 at 3:19 PMIt can't look inviting to have to go three ways in a primary with Maxwell and Jay so maybe this is the next step.
The other issue is entirely personal, living in DC is a lot harder while your daughters are growing up. I know we all want to be cynical about such things, but that has to matter.
Posted by ArchPundit on Tue., Apr 19, 2005 at 3:23 PMrobin could make a run as well for gov. if claire runs here and wins, she arguably legitimatly takes the reigns of the party. if she passes....
Posted by Ben on Tue., Apr 19, 2005 at 3:33 PMIs anyone seriously considering putting their time or money on Jay Nixon AGAIN?? If we're going to get serious about winning elections in this state we need some new faces and new ideas. Graham is tops in my book.
Posted by Eric on Wed., Apr 20, 2005 at 9:45 PMEric-Jay Nixon has earned broad respect from a wide spectrum of the party and citzenry-Yes he lost two senate races-but they were against incumbents and he was willing to take the challenge in the face of long odds.
Posted by Norman Pressman on Thu., Apr 21, 2005 at 3:03 PMIt would be a mistake for Claire McCaskill to challenge Jim Talent. Jay Nixon is a very popular Attorney General; he has a wide base of support in Missouri. He can pick up the rural votes that keep costing Democrats elections. Save McCaskill to challenge Matt Blunt again in '08. Blunt has the third worst approval rating of all the Governors in the U.S. It will be an easy win for her.
Posted by Matt Dittrich on Thu., Jun 2, 2005 at 11:27 PM
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