MOScout Daily Update: Cunningham for Eslinger - Dems' LG Hole - CLEAN's Uneven Application - GOP's Kaepernick Divide and more...

Cunningham Hearts Eslinger

Incumbent Sen. Mike Cunningham endorsed Rep. Karla Eslinger in Senate 33 “to continue his mission of serving the citizens… Cunningham is term limited in the Senate and unable to run for another term. ‘Representative Eslinger is a strong Constitutional Conservative, 100% pro-life, committed to improving the regional economy and has proven to be one of the hardest

workers in Jefferson City. She has a balance of intelligence and common sense.’ said

Sen. Cunningham.”

What It Means

·         It gives Eslinger’s nascent campaign a boost.

·         But, as MOScout/Remington polling has shown across all Republican Senate primaries, the incumbents are nowhere near as popular with primary voters as President Donald Trump. 

·         Specifically, from a Senate 33 poll of Republican primary voters, Cunningham had a net favorability of +25% (with 51% having no opinion).  Trump had a net favorability of +71%.

·         I think Trump looms over the entire next election cycle.  And even in local Republican primaries, it’s much more important to be pro-Trump than have an incumbent’s endorsement.

eMailbag on CLEAN and Alferman

The insanity and bulls**t of CLEAN MO is that an LA can’t become a liaison for Corrections but the legislative director for the governor is now becoming a lobbyist for the healthcare industry six weeks before session starts. Doesn’t that fly in the face of what CLEAN MO was “supposedly” supposed to fix?

The Kaepernick Divide

One Republican asks, “Did the Governor’s team pay ANY attention to the special elections in LA & KY? Or the 99th? The only way he can blow this election is if he focuses on issues that fire up urban voters and accelerate the decline of Republicans in the suburbs. Attacking black protesters while touting the no-exceptions abortion ban would be a great way to help Galloway. If Parson sticks to his core messages on workforce and infrastructure in the suburbs and appeals to urban voters by highlighting his work on criminal justice reform, he could rack up an impressive win…”

But another tweets “If @Chiefs sign Colin Kaepernick, he will be featured in every Missouri Republican direct mail piece, television and radio ad. And Republicans will win every single race they contest, down to school board.”

Dems’ Question of the Day

Dems’ Question of the Day comes from Richard Callow.  He tweets, “Why do we have two Dem candidates for AG and none for LG?”

There’s no indication that either Elad Gross or Rich Finneran is planning to slide over to LG. And Dems are still foot-tapping, waiting for an LG candidate.

Plocher Fundy

Here’s a snapshot from Rep. Dean Plocher’s fundraiser last night. 

Everyone’s looking for tea leaves or omens on the House floor leader’s race. Thus, the comment from one reader eyeing the event, “over a dozen House Reps… representing a broad swath of the Republican caucus, many of whom traveled to be there.”

Another $250K for MedEx Campaign

The Medicaid Expansion campaign rolls up another $250K.  This time from the Missouri Hospital Association (see below).

·         But more important is the money we don’t see (so far)… an opposition campaign.

Follow-Up on The Closing Fund

Rob Dixon, Director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, responded to the Post-Dispatch article on the Closing Fund RFP to explain its purpose.

Here’s what is happening: We are seeking the temporary services of an accounting firm to help us as we design the initial financial analysis components and processes of the new program.

As you know, the Deal Closing Fund provides an up-front benefit to a company; therefore, we are taking extraordinary precautions to ensure that we are being good stewards of taxpayer dollars before we award any funds with this new tool.

We must ensure that companies have the financial viability and ability to repay clawbacks to the state in the event they do not live up to their agreements.

Our contract for this accounting firm will be on a short-term, temporary basis, and they will work very closely with experienced Department staff as we build this program.

Throughout this process, the Department has and will continue to follow the state’s procurement process to the letter, to ensure transparency and accountability to you and to all taxpayers…

New Committees

Your Vote Matters MO was formed.  It’s a PAC.  Its treasurer is Kathryn Drennen.

$5K+ Contributions

Missourians for Healthcare - $250,000 from Missouri Hospital Association.

Local 41 Political Action Fund - $16,977 from DRIVE Committee.

Lobbyists Registrations

Jeffrey Davis added Missouri Care, Inc. and Its Affiliates.

Ginger Steinmetz added County Commissioners Association of Missouri.

Birthdays

Happy birthday to Kenny Jones, Fred Dreiling, and Brianna Lennon.