MOScout Weekender: Poll Shows Biden with MO Lead, Dem AG Wide Open - Hallway Favors Trent - WWTW and more...
Remington/MOScout Poll: Dem Prez Preference
With Iowa a little over a week away, Joe Biden maintains a big lead over other Democratic presidential candidates. Mike Bloomberg who’s been spending money in Missouri lately inched into second place. The poll also finds that healthcare costs is top concern for Dems, although that changes to crime among African American Democrats. And the Democratic attorney general primary is wide open.
Survey conducted January 22 through January 23. 1,460 likely 2020 Democratic Primary Election voters participated in the survey. Survey weighted to match expected turnout demographics for the 2020 Democratic Primary Election. Margin of Error is +/-2.6%. Totals do not always equal 100% due to rounding. Find the full results here.
Q1: Possible candidates in the 2020 Democratic Primary Election for President of the United States are Joe Biden, Mike Bloomberg, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, Tom Steyer, Elizabeth Warren and Andrew Yang. If the election were held today, for whom would you vote?
Joe Biden: 39%
Mike Bloomberg: 14%
Pete Buttigieg: 6%
Amy Klobuchar: 8%
Bernie Sanders: 7%
Tom Steyer: 1%
Elizabeth Warren: 9%
Andrew Yang: 2%
Undecided: 15%
Q2: What is most important to you when determining your support for a Democratic candidate?
Their position on specific policies: 21%
Their experience and readiness for the job: 28%
Their ability to beat Donald Trump: 38%
Not sure: 12%
Q3: Generally speaking, are you better off now than you were four years ago?
Better off: 19%
Not better off: 58%
Not sure: 23%
Q4: Possible candidates in the 2020 Democratic Primary Election for Missouri State Attorney General are Rich Finneran and Elad Gross. If the election were held today, for whom would you vote?
Rich Finneran: 9%
Elad Gross: 10%
Undecided: 81%
Q5: Of the following issues, which should be the top priority for state government?
Improving education: 17%
Reducing crime: 19%
Lowering healthcare costs: 33%
Increasing jobs: 9%
Something else: 9%
Not sure: 13%
MOScout’s Hallway Index: Floor Leader Race
The hallway sees Rep. Curtis Trent pulling ahead in the House floor leader race… 30 responses…
RESULTS
1. J Eggleston…. 0%
2. Dean Plocher…. 33.3%
3. Curtis Trent…. 63.3%
4. Someone else… 3.3%
Sample of Comments
· I only say [Trent] because I think he will have the advantage with the incoming freshmen.
· Suspect Rep. Trent's "yes" column is longer and more committed than his competition.
· The House needs to elect someone that can be a check on Vescovo’s propensity to take things too personal and hold grudges. Plocher is the only one in the race that has that ability. The two of them could make a heck of a good cop, bad cop team.
· Curtis Trent by a blowout. He's done the hard work.
· Trent has a bigger base and a bigger ceiling than Plocher. He established an early lead and has not lost it. I don’t understand why Eggleston is in this race. He has no path to victory.
· Dean is far more impressive. Curtis is far more representative of the caucus. Curtis wins.
· Don’t be surprised if a fourth candidate jumps in at some point...
· Curtis is clearly the favorite. I just wonder if being the leader this far out is a good thing???
Who Won the Week?
Rob Vescovo – With the Wieland talk, the governor’s office tipped their hand that they fear Vescovo. He could end up as the most powerful speaker since Hanaway. And he hasn’t said a word the entire time.
Lawyers and lobbyists – They always seem to win. All the medical marijuana scoring fist shaking from losers is giving these folks another round of hours to bill.
School choice advocates – The expectation that Sen. Gary Romine will be departing the Senate, and the possibility that Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin will take his gavel on the Education Committee are both positives for the reformers.
John Rizzo – The new Assistant Minority Leader is positioned to become the new Minority Leader – if/when Sen. Gina Walsh steps down from that position.
Caleb Rowden and Andrew Koenig – The Republican Senate Caucus’ campaign committee now has nearly $700,00 in the bank. That’s extra firepower to support their most endangered incumbents this November.
Find a downloadable version here.
Lobbyist Registrations
Jacqueline Ramona Huckstep added Missouri Municipal League.
Corbin Parks McGhee added National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Nikki Strong added Cardinal Health; and deleted Missouri Rising.
Steven Tilley, Thomas Robbins, and Jake Silverman added BeLeaf Company.
Jason Zamkus added Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
$5K+ Contributions
Health Care Issues Committee of the Missouri Hospital Association - $157,369 from SSM Health.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Mark Rhoads, Gracia Backer, and Michael Corcoran.
Sunday: Ken Franklin.